The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld the High Court’s order granting bail to former Janata Bank chairman Abul Barkat in a corruption case involving the alleged embezzlement of Tk297 crore, with the condition that he must submit his passport to the lower court.
On Thursday, a bench headed by the Chief Justice dismissed an appeal filed by the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka challenging the High Court’s bail order, effectively keeping the earlier decision in force.
Lawyer Mustafizur Rahman Khan appeared for the defence during the hearing.
Abul Barkat was arrested on 11 July last year in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations of financial irregularities involving the AnonTex Group.
According to the ACC case statement, former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman and Abul Barkat, along with others, were accused of acting in collusion with each other to approve loans worth Tk297 crore to 22 companies of the AnonTex Group.
The funds were later allegedly embezzled through fraudulent means.
After his arrest, Barkat failed to secure bail from the lower court and subsequently moved the High Court, which granted him bail.
The Dhaka Deputy Commissioner later filed an appeal against the High Court’s order. However, the Appellate Division rejected the petition, leaving the bail order intact with the condition regarding passport submission.
