Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) why Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Mizanur Rahman is still not being arrested in the corruption case.
“Is he (DIG Mizan) more powerful than the ACC,” the apex court asked while hearing an appeal filed by the ACC challenging a High Court verdict that granted permanent bail to Hall-Mark Group Chairman Jasmine Islam in a graft case.
The ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan replied that the Commission is proceeding for arresting DIG Mizan.
Mizanur Rahman is facing a probe by the ACC over the allegation of amassing wealth illegally.
A private TV channel reported on June 9 said that ACC enquiry officer Khandaker Enamul Basir had taken Tk 25 lakh as bribe from Mizan to give him a clean chit in the corruption case. He also asked the DIG to pay him another amount of Tk 15 lakh within the next week.
On June 12, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said action would be taken against Mizan for allegedly giving bribe to the ACC official. “It’s clear that he (Mizan) has committed a crime by bribing an ACC official. He’ll be punished for it,” the Home Minister said.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC and Advocate Monsurul Huq Chowdhury and Advocate Abdul Motin Khasru stood for Jasmine Islam.
After the hearing, Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said, “While hearing, the court placed some questions to me. The court said, allegation has been raised against one of your officials. This is alarming for the country. I said, punitive action has been taken against him.”
“Then the court said, what kind of punitive action you have taken? Did you take punitive action for disrupting discipline and trafficking information? You did not take any complaint for receiving bribe, you did not take any action for that,” said the ACC lawyer.
Khurshid A;lam said, “I said, I have to conduct an investigation if I want to take action for receiving bribe. And then I have to submit an FIR for that. I cannot do anything beyond the law.
Then the court said, ‘Is he (DIG Mizan) more powerful than the ACC?’ You cannot arrest him. Why do you not arrest him in this case?”
“In reply I said the ACC is considering the matter very lawfully.” the lawyer said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday cancelled permanent bail granted by HC to Hall-Mark Group Chairman Jasmine Islam in a corruption case.
The apex court also asked Jasmine Islam to surrender before the trial court in four weeks in connection with the case.
On March 10 this year, a HC bench granted permanent bail to her in the case.
On November 1, 2016, the ACC filed the case with Motijheel Police Station accusing Jasmine and 15 others for misappropriating Tk 85.87 crore from Janata Bank.
On November 5, 2017, following a bail petition filed by Jasmine, the HC issued a rule asking the ACC and the government to explain as to why she should not be granted bail in the case.
Jasmine, the wife of Hall-Mark Group Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud, was accused in charge sheets of all 11 cases filed on October 4 in 2012 by the ACC, over misappropriation of more than Tk 1,568 crore.
