Partha Gopal Banik awarded 8-yr imprisonment

A Dhaka court on Sunday awarded eight year imprisonment to suspended deputy inspector general of prisons, Partha Gopal Banik, in a case filed on charges of acquiring wealth from unknown sources of income and misuse of power.

The court of Dhaka special judge court-4, Sheikh Nazmul Alam pronounced the verdict, said Anti-Corruption Commission public prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kazal.

The court also ordered to confiscate Banik’s illegal wealth of Tk 6.5 million (65 lakhs) in favour of the state.

Partha Gopal Banik was produced before the court before the pronouncement of the verdict. The cross examination in the case was completed on 27 December last year.

ACC filed a case against Partha Gopal Banik on 29 July 2020 on charges of acquiring wealth from unknown sources of income and laundering the money. The Anti-Corruption Commission submitted the charge sheet against Banik on 23 August last year.

The charge sheet said accused Partha Gopal Banik gave a statement to an investigation team of ACC at its office on 28 July. At a stage of the quizzing Banik said he has Tk 3 million at his home but he could not show legal source of the money. Later, an ACC team raided his hose and seized Tk 8 million.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Partha Gopal Banik’s lawyer Ehsanul Haque Samaji said, “We will appeal with the High Court against this verdict.”

Partha Gopal Banik joined as jail super in 2002. On 12 October 2014, he was promoted to deputy inspector general of prisons.