New Market police yesterday pressed charges against Awami League (AL) leader and chairman of Shinepukur Holdings Limited Salman F Rahman and his brother Ahmed Sohel Fashiur Rahman in two cheating cases.

Gulshan police produced Babar before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Quamrunnahar at 4.15pm on completion of his three-day remand in connection with an arms case.

In the forwarding report, the investigation officer (IO) said he gathered important information about Babar's illegal firearms and ammunition. The information derived from Babar is being verified and he needs to be confined in the jail custody until the investigation completes, the IO added.

Opposing the prosecution plea, Babar's defence lawyer Advocate Sanaullah Miah told the court that his client denied the news items published in different national dailies about his given statements to the Joint Interrogation Cell and said these were false, fabricated and concocted.

Moreover, the seized items for which the case was filed were false, the lawyer added.

Meantime, Babar broke down in tears in the dock after seeing his wife and sister. The two asked him to keep patience.

The former state minister was earlier remanded for eight days--four days under Emergency Power Rules and four days in the arms case. He was arrested in the third round of government crackdown on high profile graft suspects on May 28.

The joint forces also recovered a shotgun, a rifle, a pistol, a Brazil-made revolver, two magazines and 297 bullets from his (Babar) Gulshan residence.

MAMUN CASE
Detained controversial businessman Mamun was sent to jail after completion of five-day remand in connection with an extortion case filed with Gulshan Police Station on May 31.

Gulshan police produced Mamun before the court and placed a forwarding report saying that Mamun gave important information about the extortion. He needs to be confined in jail custody until the investigation completes, police added.

Selim Prodhan, chairman of Japan Bangladesh Group, filed the case on May 31 accusing Mamun and two of his associates for extorting Tk 8.4 crore from him at different dates between December 8, 2001 and December 20, 2006.

The two other accused-- Rajib Siraj Apu and Kawsar Zaman Bappi--have been absconding.

Mamun had earlier been remanded for 50 days in different cases.

SALMAN CASE
New Market police yesterday submitted charge sheets to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in connection with two cheating cases filed against Salman F Rahman and his brother Ahmed Sohel Fashiur Rhaman.

Of them, Salman is now jail custody while his brother is still at large. The investigation officers (IOs) prayed for issuance of arrest warrant against Fashiur Rahman.

The cases were filed on March 19 with New Market Police Station against Salman and his brother for cheating with two people in buying two plots from their Sun City Project.