The High Court today observed that Khandaker Mohtesam Hossain Babar, brother of former LGRD minister engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, is the mastermind behind laundering Tk 2,000 crore.
"It has been evident from the confessional statements given by other accused that he [Mohtesam] used to run a syndicate. His activities have tarnished the image of the government and country as he had given shelter to other accused and he was their consultant.
"He [Mohtesam] is a ringleader. He used to collect commissions from tenders floated by the offices of LGRD ministry. Why should we grant him bail in the case," the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo said during the hearing on a rule issued earlier following his bail petition.
The HC also rejected the bail petition, saying that Mohtesam cannot be granted bail because of the gravity of his offence mentioned in the case.
The bench passed the rejection order considering that the petition was not presented properly before it as his lawyer Syed Mizanur Rahman said at a stage of hearing that his client would not appeal for bail.
Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state during the hearing of the petition.
Police arrested Khandaker Mohtesam Hossain Babar from Bashundhara residential area of Dhaka on March 8.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police filed the case with Kafrul Police Station in 2020 on charges of laundering Tk2,000 crore.
During the hearing of the same bail petition, the HC bench on May 17 this year refused to grant him bail, but issued a rule asking the state to explain why he should not be granted bail in this case.
