Amir Khasru files writ petition with HC challenging ACC notices

BNP senior leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury today filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s notices that ordered him to appear before the commission for quizzing over allegations of corruption against him.

The ACC on August 16 issued a notice asking Amir Khasru, a former minister and BNP Standing Committee member, to appear before it on August 28 for quizzing over allegations of money laundering and amassing wealth illegally.

On August 28, the BNP leader sought one month’s time from ACC for collecting the necessary documents in this regard.

The anti-graft watchdog granted his petition on the same day (August 28) and issued another notice asking Amir Khasru to appear before it at 10:00am on September 10.

“If you fail to appear on the scheduled date, actions will be taken against you as per the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004,” the ACC said in the notice.

Today, Amir Khasru submitted the writ petition to the HC seeking stay on the effectiveness of the ACC notices, saying that the commission has not issued the notices to him in accordance with the law.

Citing from the petition, Barrister Abdullah Al Mahmud Masud, a lawyer for Amir Khasru, told The Daily Star that the ACC was supposed to issue the notices to his client under Section 22 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2014.

But, the commission has issued the notices to Amir Khasru under Sections 18 and 19 of the act, he said.

The lawyer said the HC may hold hearing on the writ petition tomorrow.