HC declares tax evasion case against Tuku illegal
The High Court yesterday declared null and void the tax evasion case against former state minister for power Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku.
A two-judge bench headed by Justice M A Rashid pronounced the judgment.
National Board of Revenue filed the case, accusing Tuku of evading over Tk 3.80 crore in income tax from 1999 through 2007.
Earlier on August 29, the High Court, upon a petition, stayed the case halfway through the trial proceedings, and issued a ruling upon the revenue board to explain why the case 'should not be quashed'.
According to the case statement, Tuku repeatedly submitted "false" information to the income-tax department about his income and expenditure. He also "used his ministerial position to conceal information on his real income".
Besides, Tuku allegedly did not submit statements about his non-agricultural property, motor vehicles, bank statements, credit cards, and savings investments, fixed deposits and interest on deposits.
The former state minister, who was arrested in February, is now serving a nine-year sentence in a corruption case following a fast-track court convicted him November 15.
The court, trying high-profile corruption suspects, also ordered confiscation of his property worth about Tk 3 crore. The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the graft case against him.
Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, assisted by Barrister Ajmalul Hossain, QC, appeared for the defendant.
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