Following a suo moto rule issued on June 26 by Judge AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury, five traffic police officers appeared before the court yesterday begging for clemency but only officers Obaidul Huq and Hafizur Rahman were exonerated from the charges as they were not directly involved in the misconduct.

Three other officers sergeants Shoebur Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman and Russell Arafat were referred to the designated court for contempt of court proceedings to be drawn against them.

The incident happened at Farmgate on June 23 when the High Court judge, travelling in a car flying the Supreme Court flag, challenged the three on-duty police sergeants for unlawfully blocking his way to make way for the car of a police official.

But instead of offering any apology, the arrogant officers misbehaved with the judge.

"It is nothing personal. The incident is related to the dignity of the court and the Constitution. Their audacity had crossed the limit ... The prestige of the High Court would be jeopardised if they are allowed to go unpunished," said Justice Chowdhury during the hearing.

The court ordered the release of officers Obaidul Huq and Hafizur Rahman under the condition that they will give an undertaking that they and their subordinates would respect the Supreme Court flag in future.