The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against a 45-year-old woman named Roma Biswas in Chattogram on charges of acquiring and possessing wealth worth Tk10.30 crore beyond her known sources of income.
Immovable and movable assets totaling nearly Tk11.89 crore were found in her name. After deducting her family and other living expenses, her legitimate income stood at approximately Tk1.59 crore.
The anti-graft agency filed the case after uncovering a clear discrepancy between her legitimate income and total assets.
The case was filed at the ACC Integrated District Office, Chattogram-2, on Monday. Md Jasim Uddin, deputy assistant director of the ACC, filed the case as the plaintiff under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) of the case, Roma Biswas is a resident of Sachindra Lal Bhavan in Firingi Bazar area of Chattogram city.
Her late husband, Anup Biswas, was a resident of Kotwali police station area in Chattogram city and was known as a prominent alcohol merchant.
During the ACC inquiry, details of movable and immovable assets valued at Tk11.89 crore were found in Roma Biswas’s name up to the 2022–23 tax year.
Of this, the value of immovable assets was Tk11.89 crore, while the value of movable assets stood at Tk 72.68 lakh.
According to the FIR, Roma Biswas had a legitimate income of Tk2.55 crore from business, house property, and other sources up to the 2022-23 tax year. During the same period, her family and other expenses totaled Tk96.46 lakh.
Deducting these expenses leaves her net legitimate income available for asset acquisition at Tk1.58 crore. On the other hand, the total assets found in her name were valued at Tk11.89 crore.
Comparing her total assets with the remaining income after expenses revealed disproportionate assets amounting to Tk10.30 crore the FIR noted.
ACC Chattogram Deputy Director Riaz Uddin said the acquisition of these assets took place between 13 November 2008 and 30 June 2022.
He added that following a preliminary inquiry, proof of acquiring and possessing assets inconsistent with her known sources of income was established, prompting the decision to file the case.
He added that the ACC Head Office approved the case on 7 October. If the involvement of any other person is uncovered during the investigation, they will also be brought under scrutiny.
