HC wants to know what steps have been taken to arrest PK Halder

The High Court today wanted to know what steps have been taken to arrest Proshanta Kumar Halder, who fled the country after allegedly siphoning out around Tk 10,200 crore from some non-banking financial institutions.

The court ordered the authorities concerned of the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain in 10 days the steps taken over bringing PK Halder back and arresting him.

Read more: Swindle by PK Halder: So far, it is Tk 10,200cr

The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities to show causes why their inaction and failure to arrest PK Halder should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the order and rule on a suo moto (voluntary) move following a report published on Bangla daily Bangladesh Pratidin on November 18 on embezzlement of huge amount of public money by the fugitive PK Halder, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik told The Daily Star.

Read more: PK Halder yet to return, cites fever as reason

During the proceedings, the HC bench observed that PK Halder has fled the country after misappropriating thousands of crores of taka but he was not arrested --"as if he is showing thumbs to the people,which is not acceptable".

Nobody, including PK Halder, is above the law, the HC said.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan was present during the HC proceedings.

Earlier on October 21, the High Court directed law enforcement agencies to arrest Halder immediately after his return to the country.