A Dhaka court on Sunday (October 8, 2023) sentenced disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL) Proshanto Kumar Halder, also known as PK Halder to 22 years’ of imprisonment in a case over amassing wealth and money laundering. Thirteen other accused in the case were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment each. Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-10 Mohammad Nazrul Islam delivered the judgment. The 13 convicts included Sukumar Mridha, Anindita Mridha, Avantika Baral, Shankh Bepari, PK Halder's mother Lilavati Halder, Purnima Rani Halder, Uttam Kumar Mistri, Amitabh Adhikari, Pritish Kumar Halder, Rajib Som, Subrata Das, Anang Mohan Roy and Swapan Kumar Mistri. Read: Court fixes October 8 to deliver verdict in graft case against PK Halder, 13 others Of them, Sukumar Mridha, Anindita Mridha, Avantika Baral and Shankh Bepari were present on the dock during the delivery of the judgment. Earlier on October 4, the court set October 8 for delivering verdict upon ending arguments from the both the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the defendants. Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, assistant director of Dhaka Integrated District Office of the ACC, filed the case against PK Haldar for acquiring around Tk 275 crore illegally on January 8, 2020. According to the case statement, PK Halder acquired wealth worth almost Tk 275 crore beyond known sources of income through illegal activities and kept them in his possession. Read: India to hand over PK Halder to Bangladesh? The ACC investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet to the court. In the charge sheet, the anti-graft watchdog accused Halder of laundering CAD 1.17 crore to Canada through illegal means. A Dhaka court framed charges against the accused on September 8, 2021. On May 13 this year, India's federal economic offences police arrested PK Halder and his two associates from the eastern state of West Bengal. He is now in an Indian jail. Read more:Trial of graft case against PK Halder begins

India is likely to hand over to Bangladesh one of its most wanted financial criminals, PK Halder, who was arrested by the federal economic offences agency in Bengal earlier this year. Halder, the former MD of NRB Global Bank, had been on the run since being charged by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission for money laundering and amassing ill-gotten wealth. "Since Interpol issued a red corner notice against Halder last year, the Enforcement Directorate may eventually hand him over to the authorities in Bangladesh," highly placed sources told UNB. Halder and his two aides, Pritish Kumar Halder and Pranesh Kumar Halder, were nabbed by the Enforcement Directorate in May this year during multiple raids across Kolkata and its neighbouring districts. Also read: Trial of graft case against PK Halder begins "PK Halder has been posing as an Indian citizen by the name of Shibshankar Halder after having managed to fraudulently obtain various government identities...," the agency then said in a statement. According to the Directorate, the three managed to float companies in India on the basis of the fraudulent documents.  Also read: PK Halder, 13 others indicted in money laundering case

The trial of a corruption case against Prashanta Kumar Halder (PK Halder), disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL), and 13 others began at a Dhaka court on Thursday. Justice Mohammad Nazrul Islam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-10 recorded testimony of Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, an Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the plaintiff of the case. The court has fixed October 13 for the cross-examination of Mamunur’s statement. On September 8, the court framed charges against the accused. The other accused in the case are PK Harder’s mother Lilabati Halder, Purnima Rani Halder, Uttam Kumar Mistri, Amitabh Adhikari, Pritish Kumar Halder, Rajib Som, Subratra Das, Ananga Mohan Ray, Swapan Kumar Mistri, Abantika Baral, Shankha Bepari, Sukumar Mridha and Anindita Mridha. Among the accused, Abantika, Shankha, Sukumar and Anindita were arrested and sent to jail. Read: PK Halder, 13 others indicted in money laundering case According to the case statement, PK Halder has acquired wealth worth almost Tk 275 crore beyond known sources of income through illegal activities and kept them in his possession. The ACC investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet to the court. In the charge sheet, the anti-graft watchdog accused Halder of laundering CAD 1.17 crore to Canada through illegal means. The corruption case against Halder was lodged with ACC’s Dhaka Coordinated Office by Mamunur on January 8, 2020. On May 13 this year, India's federal economic offences police arrested PK Halder and his two associates from the eastern state of West Bengal.   He is now in Indian jail. 

A Dhaka court today (September 8, 2022) framed charges against Proshanto Kumar Halder, disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL), and 13 others in a case over laundering money and amassing illegal assets. The other accused are- PK Halder's mother Lilabati Halder, Purnima Rani Halder, Uttam Kumar Mistry, Amitabh Adhikari, Pritish Kumar Halder, Rajib Som, Subrata Das, Ananga Mohan Roy, Swapan Kumar Mistry, Sukumar Mridha, Anindita Mridha, Abantika Baral, Shankha Bepari. Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-10 Judge Mohammad Nazrul Islam framed the charges and ordered to begin trial. Read: 2 more associates of PK Halder held in city Sukumar Mridha, his daughter Anindita Mridha, Abantika Baral and Shankha Bepari ,now in jail,pleaded not guilty during today’s hearing. However, PK Halder and nine others were shown fugitives and will be tried in absentia. The court also fixed September 22 for recording testimonies of the witnesses. This is the first of three dozen cases filed against PK Halder and his associates. On January 8, 2020, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury filed the case against PK Halder at the Dhaka Integrated District Office for acquiring illegal assets of around Tk 275 crore. In the chargesheet submitted by ACC, PK Halder was accused of illegally laundering 1.17 lakh Canadian dollars to Canada. Read: Extradition of PK Halder has to go through legal process: Indian envoy Halder had been on the run since being charged by the ACC for money laundering and amassing ill-gotten wealth. On May 13 this year, India's federal economic offences police arrested PK Halder and his two associates from the eastern state of West Bengal. He is now in Indian jail.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Wednesday detained two more associates of Proshanto Kumar Halder, disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL), in a money laundering case. The detainees were Sharmin Ahmed, 42 and Tania Ahmed, 37—two daughters of People’s Leasing Company director Khabir Uddin, one of the main associates of Halder. Tipped off, the elite force detained them from Dhanmondi and Shyamoli area in the city, said Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of the Legal and Media Wing of Rab. Read: Extradition of PK Halder has to go through legal process: Indian envoy Halder now in jail as Indian intelligence team arrested him.  Halder reportedly amassed Tk 3,600 crore and laundered the money abroad while performing his duties as director at ILFSL. Besides, on January 8, the Anti-Corruption Commission also lodged a complaint against Halder for acquiring wealth of around Tk 275 crore beyond any known income sources and money laundering.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami said on Tuesday that legal process has to be completed before extradition of Bangladeshi businessman PK Halder from India to Bangladesh. Halder, wanted in Bangladesh for money laundering and a series of financial crimes, was arrested on Sunday by India’s federal Enforcement Directorate, in West Bengal.   While responding to questions from reporters after a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Doraiswami said it is a process and it is not like exchanging Christmas cards. Also read:PK Halder to stay in federal agency's custody for 10 more days “These are things done through legal process. Let that happen slowly,” he said, adding that they are working with the Bangladesh government. He said there will be response from their side at some point of time based on the information they are provided with. Earlier, the high commissioner had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on the preparation of foreign minister-level Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting to be held in Delhi on May 30 and and discussed cooperation in bilateral and multilateral domains. During his meeting the FS raised the issue and sought India’s support for handing over PK Halder to Bangladesh. He said the envoy assured of their full cooperation in the matter. The foreign secretary said India will take into consideration Bangladesh’s request once they complete their own legal process there.  He said there will formal request through the diplomatic channel too and the Home Ministry will play an active role to that end. Bangladesh wants to know full extent of financial criminality of PK Halder in India that might help in terms of the cases he faces in Bangladesh. It’s up to India to see if he committed any crime there and that may be under investigation , he said. Responding to a question, the FS said it does not necessarily require legal framework always if there is very good friendship between the two countries. He, however, said cases related to financial criminality might be different from other criminal cases.

The High Court on Tuesday fixed June 12 as the date to hear a rule issued on bringing back businessman PK Halder to Bangladesh from India. A bench of justices Nazrul islam Talukder and Kazi Md Ezarul Haque Akunnd passed the order. Deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin appeared for the state during the hearing and senior lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The High Court also asked the ACC to keep it posted about the latest developments on the investigation in a case filed over money laundered to different countries by Halder. On May 13, India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Halder and his two associates in the eastern state of West Bengal. The next day, a court remanded him in ED's custody for three days. "PK Halder has been posing as an Indian citizen by the name of Shibshankar Halder after having managed to fraudulently obtain various government identities...," the Directorate had said in a statement. Also read: India's federal agency may seek extension of PK Halder's remand According to the Directorate, the three managed to float companies in India on the basis of the fraudulent documents. On May 16, the DAG brought the matter to the HC's attention and on Tuesday, the self-initiated rule was taken into the cause list of the court for hearing. Halder, the former MD of NRB Global Bank, had been on the run since being charged by the ACC for money laundering and amassing ill-gotten wealth. In cases filed by the ACC, Halder is accused of embezzling and swindling multiple non-banking financial institutions of more than Tk 10,000 crore. On January 19, 2020, the High Court directed to seize passports and freeze bank accounts of 20 people, including Halder, following a petition by investors. Also read: India deserves thanks for arresting PK Halder: HC But before that, on October 23, 2019, Halder managed to cross the border through the Benapole land port, according to the immigration police. On November 19 , 2020, the High Court wanted to know the steps taken to bring back Halder and arrest him and issued a rule questioning why a direction in this regard should not be given.

India's federal economic intelligence agency may seek an extension of remand of Bangladeshi businessman PK Halder when he will be produced in a court in Kolkata on Tuesday. The three-day remand of Halder and his two associates, who were arrested by India's Enforcement Directorate in West Bengal state on Friday, ended on Tuesday. Read: India deserves thanks for arresting PK Halder: HC Sources told UNB that the Enforcement Directorate would like to hand over Halder to the country's premier probe agency -- the Central Bureau of Investigation -- for further interrogation in case of a remand extension. Halder, the former MD of NRB Global Bank, had been on the run since being charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh for money laundering and amassing ill-gotten wealth. His two aides have been identified as Pritish Kumar Halder and Pranesh Kumar Halder. The three were nabbed by the Enforcement Directorate, the economic offences agency of the Indian Home Ministry, during multiple raids across North and South 24 Parganas districts of Bengal on Friday. Read: We will do everything regarding PK Halder, says Momen after fugitive businessman's arrest in India "PK Halder has been posing as an Indian citizen by the name of Shibshankar Halder after having managed to fraudulently obtain various government identities...," the Directorate said in a statement on Saturday. The three managed to float companies in India on the basis of the fraudulent documents, according to the Directorate.  

The High Court (HC) has observed that Bangladesh should extend thanks to the Indian government for arresting fugitive businessman PK Halder. An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md. Ejarul Haque Akondo made the observation when Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik brought the issue before the court on Monday.  The court also said, “Our message is clear. We have taken a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and money laundering. None will be spared whoever they are. We are very serious about this matter.”      On May 13, India's federal economic offences police arrested PK Halder and his two associates in the eastern state of West Bengal. Halder, the former MD of NRB Global Bank, had been on the run since being charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh for money laundering and amassing ill-gotten wealth. READ: We will do everything regarding PK Halder, says Momen after fugitive businessman's arrest in India The disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL), has been posing as an Indian citizen by the name of Shibshankar Halder after having managed to fraudulently obtain various government identities. In cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), PK Halder is accused of embezzling and swindling multiple non-banking financial institutions out of more than Tk 10,000 crore.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said the government would do everything necessary as per the “set procedures” regarding fugitive PK Halder who has been arrested in West Bengal. "We have set procedures. We will work accordingly. We will do everything whatever is necessary,” he told reporters, noting that his ministry is yet to receive any information officially from the Indian government regarding Halder’s arrest. Momen said India will first let them (Bangladesh) know that he is arrested in India and he may be punished there. Responding to a question, he said top Ulfa leader Anup Chetia was handed over to India after trial and punishment in Bangladesh. “Same procedures are likely to be followed but I don’t know. Probably, the Ministry of Law knows better.” Also read: Yet to receive any formal info about PK Halder: Asaduzzaman In November 2005, Bangladesh handed over Chetia to India 18 years after his arrest in Dhaka for trespassing. Chetia, a founding member of one of India's top insurgent groups United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), had been in prison since his arrest in Mohammadpur on December 21, 1997 and he was released after completion of his jail term. "We have a good intention (to get PK Halder back),” Momen said, hoping that India will listen to Bangladesh's request on a priority basis as the two countries are passing a golden era in their relations. PK Halder, who was on the run facing charges of money laundering since 2019, was arrested by the Indian Directorate of Enforcement. Also read: Fugitive businessman PK Halder held in India Earlier, Foreign Minister Momen spoke as the chief guest at a session of the second National Conference on SDGs Implementation Review 2022 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center.