Tk 40 lakh bribery case: Suspended ACC director Basir denied bail

The High Court rejected a bail petition today filed by the suspended director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Khandaker Enamul Basir, for transacting Tk 40 lakh as a bribe.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman passed the order, claiming that the petition was not presented properly before it.

The bench, however, ordered the lower court concerned to finish the trial proceedings of the case under relevant laws, Enamul's lawyer Zahidul Alam told The Daily Star.

He said the trial court is supposed to dispose of the case against his client in 360 days from the date of accepting it for trial.

Zahidul Alam said Enamul's lawyers requested the HC to reject the petition as the HC was reluctant to grant him bail in the case at this stage.

Lawyer Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for Enamul while ACC's lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan opposed the bail petition during the virtual hearing.

Enamul Basir, now in jail, filed the bail petition with the HC on June 2 through his lawyer Zahidul Alam.

Enamul sought bail since he is ailing, suffering in jail for a long time, and the trial proceedings of the case against him are not running now due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The HC earlier refused to grant bail to Enamul Basir on several occasions considering the gravity of his offense, the lawyer said.

On July 16, 2019, ACC Director Sheikh Md Fanafillah filed the case with the ACC's Dhaka District Integrated Office-1 under the anti-money laundering act on a charge of taking Tk 40 lakh as a bribe from the suspended deputy inspector general of police Mizanur Rahman.