‘Framing’ 2 in False Case: Take action against nine DB men

A Dhaka court recently wrote to the inspector general of police, seeking actions against nine police officials of the Detective Branch who allegedly framed two men in a false case over possession of fake notes.

The IGP was asked to take departmental actions against the nine and inform the court within three months, read the letter, signed by Judge Tahsin Iftekhar of a Metropolitan Special Tribunal in Dhaka, dated September 13.

Belal Uddin, additional DIG (discipline and professional standard wing) at Police Headquarters, confirmed to The Daily Star yesterday that the PHQ has received the letter.

The nine are -- Sub-Inspector Dewan Uzzal Hossain, Inspector Tapan Kumar Dhali, Assistant Sub-inspector Ziaur Rahman, ASI Sohel Mahmud, ASI Abul Bashar, ASI Mominul Haque, ASI Nazmul Haque Prodhan, and constables Nayan Kumar and Golam Sarowar.

On January 24, the court of Judge Tahsin Iftekhar acquitted Hasan Majumdar, manager of a city hotel, and Sohel Rana, chef of the hotel, as charges brought against them could not be proved beyond doubt, according to the court documents.

The two were fighting a legal battle for six years to clear their names alleging that they were framed by the DB officials.

During a raid at Hotel Bondhu in the capital's Paltan on November 6, 2016, plainclothes detectives detained the two. The event was recorded in the hotel's security camera.

A sub-inspector of the DB then filed a case against them with Motijheel Police Station under the Special Powers Act.

However, the first information report, prepared by the detectives, depicted a completely different story.

According to the FIR, the DB arrested the duo in the Fakirapool area around 4:15pm on November 6, 2016, while they were fleeing with fake bank notes worth Tk 25 lakh.

Hasan, however, alleged that the false FIR was written because he refused to give the detectives Tk 3 lakh in bribe during the raid.

The next year, Sub-Inspector Dewan Uzzal Hossain, one of the officers who conducted the raid and also the investigation officer of the case, pressed charges against Hasan and Sohel.