The High Court has scrapped four extortion cases filed against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in 2007.

The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain passed the order after hearing a rule.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Barrister Sanjid Siddique stood for Tarique.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin said two businesspersons filed the cases with Kafrul Police Station on charge of extortion against Tarique in 2007. A writ petition was filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the cases.

In 2008, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to stop the trail proceeding and why the proceedings of the cases should not be declared illegal.

On March 7, 2007, the law enforcement agencies arrested Tarique Rahman during the tenure of  the caretaker government. Later, 15 more cases were filed against him on charges of extortion, tax evasion, accumulation of illegal wealth and corruption.

On September 3, 2008, Tarique went to the UK for better treatment after securing bail from court.