HC cancels Samrat's bail in graft case

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday cancelled the bail granted to ex-Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat in a graft case filled by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) for amassing wealth beyond his known income source.

The court, at the same time, ordered Samrat to surrender before the concerned judicial court within seven days.

A High Court Division Bench comprising of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order, reports BSS.

From March 31 to May 11 this year, Samrat was granted bail by the lower court in a total of four cases.

After receiving the bail papers on May 11, the jail authorities released Samrat. However, Samrat is still undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told BSS that, "Although bail was granted on health ground, no medical report was submitted to the court. For this reason his bail was cancelled by the High Court."

Senior lawyer Mansurul Haque Chowdhury appeared for the ex-Jubo League leader in the court.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Samrat from a village in Cumilla's Chauddagram upazila on October 6, 2019.

In a subsequent action, police raided his Kakrail office in the capital and recovered huge quantities of foreign liquor, guns and rare species of wildlife skins.

Immediately after his arrest, a mobile court sentenced Samrat to six months of jail term for possessing wildlife hides. A case was filed against him under the Arms and Drugs Act for possession of arms and drugs.

Later, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed a case against him under the Money Laundering Act and the ACC filed a case alleging illegal acquisition of assets.