Verdict against SK Sinha in graft case today

A Dhaka court today will deliver its verdict in a case filed against former chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha (SK Sinha) and 10 others for laundering Tk4 crore.

On October21, Judge Shaikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 fixed the date to deliver its judgment on completion of closing arguments in the graft case.

When contacted on Monday, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Abdus Salam said: “The date has been fixed for delivery of the verdict. Hopefully, the court will give the verdict

During closing arguments, the prosecution demanded the maximum punishment for the accused, claiming all charges against them had been proven.

However, defence lawyers sought acquittal of the accused, claiming the charges against their clients had not been proven at all.

The 10 other accused are AKM Shamim, Gazi Salahuddin, Swapan Kumar Roy, Md Lutful Haque, Md Shahjahan, Niranjan Chandra Saha, Shafiuddin Askary Ahmed, Ranjit Chandra Saha, Santri Roy and Mahbubul Haque Chisty alias Babul Chisty.

Among the accused, Shamim, Salahuddin, Swapan, Lutful, Shahjahan and Niranjan, who are now on bail, were present at the tribunal. Babul Chisty, who is behind bars, was brought to the court from the jail.

Four other accused - SK Sinha, Shafiuddin, Ranjit and Santri - have been absconding since filing of the graft case by the ACC.

A total of 21 prosecution witnesses testified before the court in the case.

The ACC in October 2018 said the commission found evidence of fraud involving transactions of Tk4 crore borrowed with fake documents by two businessmen, Shahjahan and Niranjan, from the Farmers Bank (now Padma Bank). Later, the money was deposited in Justice SK Sinha’s account.

On July 10, 2019, ACC Director Syed Iqbal Hossain filed the case against SK Sinha and 10 others with its Integrated District Office-1 in Dhaka.

On December 8 the same year, ACC director Md Benjir Ahammad, also investigation officer of the case, pressed charges against the accused.

On August 13 last year, the court started the trial and framed charges against the accused in the corruption case.

Justice SK Sinha resigned from his post on November 11, 2017, from abroad. He is now in the USA.