High Court on Wednesday imposed a fine of Tk5 crore on GPH Ispat for concealing information while filing a writ petition.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukdar and Justice Mahmud Hasan delivered this order, directing the company to deposit the fine with Office of the Registrar General of Supreme Court within one month.
The recovered funds are to be utilised for medical treatment of the injured “July warriors.”
Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, representing the state, informed journalists that a loan defaulter and Commercially Important Person (CIP) associated with GPH Ispat had filed a writ seeking removal from the defaulter list and the restoration of their status.
The initial writ petition had been dismissed, after which an application was moved before the Appellate Division’s Chamber Judge court. However, while the matter was still sub-judice, GPH Ispat filed a fresh writ petition by concealing these prior legal proceedings.
The court imposed this fine after the state presented the history of the previous litigation.
Commenting on the ruling, the attorney general stated that concealing information to secure a court order constitutes “fraud against the judicial process.” He emphasised that the decision serves as a “strong message” to deter dishonesty toward the court.
Following the state’s disclosure, lawyers representing GPH Ispat offered an unconditional apology to the court, claiming they had not been briefed by the petitioner regarding the previous case history.
