No bar to probe graft allegation against 8 Narayanganj land officials

The Supreme Court today cleared the way for the Anti-Corruption Commission to resume an investigation into a corruption case against eight land officers in Narayanganj.

The apex court lifted a High Court order that stayed the investigation proceedings of the case filed by the commission.

It also observed that the accused persons can surrender to the senior special judge's court concerned in Narayanganj in connection with the case for bail if they wish.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by the Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha gave this order after hearing a petition filed by the ACC challenging the HC order.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that is no legal bar for the ACC to resume an investigation into the corruption case against eight land officials.

The ACC filed the case against a total of 12 persons including Abu Taher, surveyor of Naryanganj deputy commissioner's office, with Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj on August 29 this year on a charge of misappropriating money by showing Khas land's trees under the individual ownership.

In the case statement, it was alleged that the accused persons misappropriated Tk 3.47 crore by showing trees on Khas land in Kamta mouja under the Purbachal project of Rajuk under the individual ownership by taking bribes.

Following a writ petition filed by the eight accused, the HC on September 21 stayed the investigation proceedings of the case against and asked the government and ACC not harass or arrest them in the case.

The ACC then submitted a leave to appeal petition to the SC challenging the HC order.