HC Cancels Partha Gopal's Bail, Orders to Surrender

The High Court has canceled the bail of former Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (DIG-Prisons) Partha Gopal Banik in a case filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) under the Corruption and Money Laundering Act.

Earlier, the hearing of the rule in the High Court ended last Thursday (August 26). Later today (September 2) the same virtual bench set the date for the verdict. Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC in the court that day. Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar represented the state.

Earlier, the High Court had twice rejected the application of Partha Gopal Banik. At that time, the High Court in a separate order directed the lower court to dispose of the case first within six months and then within a year. Despite this instruction, the case was not disposed of within the stipulated time. In this situation, Partha Gopal Banik was granted bail till July 15 by the Special Judge Court No. 5 of Dhaka. The next day, the prison officer was released from jail. A report on this was published on a private television channel.

In this context, the ACC appealed to the High Court to cancel the bail of the jail officer. The petition was heard in the High Court on June 26. The court accepted the ACC's appeal for hearing and the special judge sought an explanation from the court judge. The judge has already submitted an explanation. In the explanation, judge Iqbal Hossain admitted the mistake of granting bail to Partha Gopal Banik and apologized in writing to the High Court. In this situation, a hearing was held on the application of the ACC.

Partha Gopal Banik was arrested on July 28, 2019 along with Rs 80 lakh in cash from his Bhooter Gali residence in the capital. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against him for recovering the money. Following the investigation, the ACC filed the charge-sheet on August 24 last year. The case is pending in Special Judge's Court No. 5 in Dhaka. The case is being heard at the Special Judge's Court No. 5 in Dhaka.