HC stays bail order of Rana Plaza owner in graft case

The High Court yesterday extended its stay order on the bail granted by a lower court to Sohel Rana, owner of Rana Plaza -- which collapsed leaving at least 1,135 people in April, 2013 -- in a corruption case.

The HC also issued a rule asking the state to explain in four weeks why the lower court order that granted bail to Sohel Rana in this case should not be scrapped.

The stay order on the bail will continue till disposal of the rule, the HC said.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the order and rule after virtually hearing a petition petition filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (AC'C) seeking cancellation of the lower court order that granted bail to Sohel Rana.

Sohel Rana cannot get released from jail following yesterday's  HC order, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

He said the ACC filed the case with Savar Model Police Station on December 31, 2017 against Sohel Rana on charge of amassing wealth worth Tk 2.54 crore beyond known sources of income.

A Dhaka court on May 17 granted bail to Sohel Rana in the corruption case.

Following the ACC's petition,  the then virtual HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder on June 8 stayed the lower court order that granted bail to Sohel Rana. The stay order will continue after the regular activities of the court resumes following the then holiday, the HC bench had said.

Courts across the country then went on general holiday  declared due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ACC lawyer yesterday moved the same petition before the HC bench for its hearing and a further order.

Lawyer Khurshid Alarm Khan appeared for the ACC and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state and lawyee Alamgir Hossain argued for Sohel Rana.