HC acquits Lutfozzaman Babar in graft case

The Supreme Court today acquitted former BNP state minister Lutfozzaman Babar in a corruption case in which he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The HC also quashed an earlier judgment dated October 12, 2021, in which Babar had been found guilty of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 7.5 crore.

The bench of Justice Kamrul Hossain Mollah delivered the verdict following an appeal filed by Babar against the court’s decision.

Despite his acquittal in the case, Babar will remain in prison due to his involvement in other cases, his lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir told reporters.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Babar at the Ramna Model police station on January 13, 2008.

The case accused him of amassing illegal wealth.

ACC Deputy Director Rupok Kumar Saha, the investigating officer, filed the charge sheet on July 16, 2008 and the charge sheet was accepted by the court on July 23. Charges were filed against Babar on August 12, 2008.

Babar initially contested the case and filed a petition in the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the lower court’s decision.

The Supreme Court temporarily halted the proceedings and asked for an explanation from the ACC and the government.

On March 17, 2017, the Supreme Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim heard the matter, revoked the stay order and asked the lower court to complete the trial proceedings within six months.

Before that, Babar was sentenced to 17 years in prison on October 30, 2007 for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

He was also sentenced to death in the ten-truck arms transports and the grenade attacks of August 21.

Lutfozzaman Babar, a two-time MP from Netrokona-4 constituency, served as Minister of State for Home Affairs in the BNP-led government from 2001 to 2006.