SC upholds HC bail order for Apan Jewellers owners

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the High Court order that granted bail to three owners of Apan Jewellers in three money laundering cases, reports news agency UNB.

The five-member bench of acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah passed the order after rejecting the petition filed by the state.

The owners are Dildar Ahmed, Gulzar Ahmed and Azad Ahmed.

Following today's order, there is no bar to release two of Apan Jewellers' owners from jail except Dildar Ahmed as he is accused in another case, said Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, counsel of the defendants.

Earlier on 2 January, the apex court extended its earlier order until January 8 that stayed the High Court order granting bail to three owners of Apan Jewellers in three money laundering cases.

On 21 December last, the Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court extended its earlier order until January 2 in the money laundering cases.

18 December, a special bench of the Chamber Judge stayed the bail order of the High Court until December 21 and set 21 December for next hearing of the petitions in the scheduled vacation bench.

On 14December, the High Court granted bail to three owners of Apan Jewellers in three money laundering cases.

On 22 November last, the HC issued five separate rules in five money laundering cases filed against them.

On 12 August, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) filed five cases against the three owners of Apan Jewellers after 15 maunds of illegal gold and some diamond jewellery were recovered from its branches.

Five CIID assistant revenue officers filed the cases with Gulshan Police Station, Dhanmondi Police Station, Ramna Police Station and Uttara Police Station following the directives of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).