SC upholds HC rule in Janata Tower case
Thursday, 13 November 2008
The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the High Court (HC) ruling of fines or jail in the much-publicised Janata Tower graft case against former first lady Raushan Ershad and others, reports bdnews24.com.
A full bench led by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin dismissed an appeal against the High Court order that asked the accused to pay Tk 10,000 in fine or face two years in jail.
The court also granted an appeal by the government against the High Court rule that the Janata Tower should be handed over to a group led by Shukur Ali Pradhan.
As a result, the Janata Tower remains a government property, said Deputy Attorney General Zahirul Islam Mukul.
On April 14, 1991, then the Bureau of Anti-corruption pressed charges at the Tejgaon Police Station against former President HM Ershad, Raushan, former RAJUK chairman MM Rahmatullah, Abdus Shakoor Pradhan and 17 others.
Ershad had been convicted of the charges and sentenced to five years in prison.
He appealed against the ruling and, on August 24, 2000, the sentence was reduced to two years but he was slapped with a fine of nearly Tk 55 million (5.50 crore).
After three and a half years in prison, the Appellate Division maintained the fine but relieved Ershad from serving out the remaining one and a half years behind bars.
When Raushan and others filed petition, the High Court imposed a fine of Tk 10,000 on them with the provision for two years imprisonment if they did not pay.
Meanwhile, Shukur Ali Pradhan and others successfully petitioned the High Court to get back Janata Tower.
But the Supreme Court later overturned the High Court ruling on a government appeal.
Advocate Khan Saifur Rahman represented Raushan and others in the hearings.
A full bench led by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin dismissed an appeal against the High Court order that asked the accused to pay Tk 10,000 in fine or face two years in jail.
The court also granted an appeal by the government against the High Court rule that the Janata Tower should be handed over to a group led by Shukur Ali Pradhan.
As a result, the Janata Tower remains a government property, said Deputy Attorney General Zahirul Islam Mukul.
On April 14, 1991, then the Bureau of Anti-corruption pressed charges at the Tejgaon Police Station against former President HM Ershad, Raushan, former RAJUK chairman MM Rahmatullah, Abdus Shakoor Pradhan and 17 others.
Ershad had been convicted of the charges and sentenced to five years in prison.
He appealed against the ruling and, on August 24, 2000, the sentence was reduced to two years but he was slapped with a fine of nearly Tk 55 million (5.50 crore).
After three and a half years in prison, the Appellate Division maintained the fine but relieved Ershad from serving out the remaining one and a half years behind bars.
When Raushan and others filed petition, the High Court imposed a fine of Tk 10,000 on them with the provision for two years imprisonment if they did not pay.
Meanwhile, Shukur Ali Pradhan and others successfully petitioned the High Court to get back Janata Tower.
But the Supreme Court later overturned the High Court ruling on a government appeal.
Advocate Khan Saifur Rahman represented Raushan and others in the hearings.