The High Court has directed the media outlets to stop publishing statements of fugitives including Proshanta Kumar Halder also known as PK Halder, an accused in a money laundering case today.
A HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order on Wednesday after hearing of an appeal in this regard.
Earlier on the day, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan filed a petition seeking directives in this matter.
ACC’s lawyer also submitted a petition to the High Court for issuing a contempt of court rule against Ekattor TV for connecting PK Halder as a guest in a live talk show on December 28.
However, the High Court bench decided to hold a hearing on the petition later.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC while Deputy Attorney General (DAG) AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
Earlier on December 9, the High Court ordered the authorities concerned to provide an update to the court on the steps taken to bring back and arrest PK Halder. The court also ordered for the submission of a progress report on this matter within January 3.
Earlier on December 3, the High Court said that all the corrupt figures and money launderers including Proshanta Kumar Halder must be brought to justice no matter how influential they are.
The High Court also asked the ACC to submit the First Information Report (FIR) against PK Halder, the order to seize his property and the arrest warrant issued by the lower court against him within this time.
On November 18, the High Court wanted to know the steps taken to bring International Leasing and Finance Service Limited (ILFSL) Director PK Halder back.
So, the ACC submitted a report in this regard stating that they had contacted the Interpol.
On September 7, PK Halder filed an appeal seeking permission for his safe return to the country. He is accused of illegally amassing 3,600 crore taka and laundering it abroad while performing his duties as the ILFSL director.
On January 8, the ACC also filed a case against him for acquiring wealth worth nearly 275 crore taka beyond his known sources of income.
In his appeal, Halder said he wanted to come back to Bangladesh to help the authorities to recover the embezzled money of ILFSL.
On January 22, the High Court ordered the government to confiscate properties of Halder and 19 others including his mother, wife, and brother apart from freezing their bank accounts and revoking their passports.
After hearing the appeals of the seven investors of ILFSL, the court also imposed restrictions so that they cannot go abroad. However, Halder managed to flee to Canada.
nh/wi
