The High Court on Monday issued a rule questioning why sentence of suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mizanur Rahman in a bribery case should not be extended.
HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Kazi Md Ezarul Haque Akunnd issued the rule during hearing on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Meanwhile, Appellate Division chamber Justice M Enayetur Rahim upheld the bail granted by the High Court to the ex-DIG in the case during hearing on the ACC’s appeal.
Senior advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC while advocate Mahbub Shafik appeared for the accused.
Also read: HC grants bail to former DIG Mizan
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said, “ Dhaka Special Judge Court sentenced him to three years imprisonment in the bribery case as per the Penal Code but he did not get punishment as per section 5 (2), of the ACC law. According to the ACC law he would get seven years Jail and we have appealed for extending the jail term.”
On February 23, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Sheikh Nazmul Alam sentenced Mizanur Rahman and suspended ACC director Khandaker Enamul Basir to three and eight years in jail, respectively in the case.
Later Mizan and Basir moved to the High Court against the order.
On April 13, HC granted two-month bail to Mizan against which ACC appealed to the appellate division.
The corruption case dates back to June 24, 2019, when ACC director Manjur Morshed lodged a complaint against the disgraced DIG, his wife Sohelia Anar Ratna, nephew sub-inspector Mahmudul Hasan and younger brother Mahbubur Rahman.
According to the case statement, Mizan accumulated wealth worth Tk 3.28 crore beyond his known sources of income. On the other hand, he had declared wealth worth Tk 3.7 crore in his tax statement.
Also read: Money laundering: HC to hear ACC’s appeal against ex-DIG Mizan’s acquittal
Then director of ACC, Basir, was made the investigating officer in the case.
During the probe, Mizan had accused Basir of demanding Tk 40 lakh as bribe for setting the case, prompting the Commission to appoint director Monjur Morshed as the investigating officer in the case.
At the same time, a three-member probe body was formed, led by ACC director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah, to look into the allegations of bribery.
On July 16, 2019, Fanafillah lodged a complaint against both Mizan and Basir. And on April 16, 2020, a Dhaka court indicted the two and directed the official beginning of the trial in the case.