HC orders jail authorities to release Jahalam today

The High Court on Sunday ordered deputy inspector general (DIG) of prisons to immediately release innocent Jahalam who was in jail for the last three years instead of the real accused in 33 corruption cases, reports UNB.

The High Court bench of justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order while hearing a rule filed over the legality of Jahalam's jailing.

The court passed the order after the director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), plaintiff of the cases and two other government officials appeared before it.

The court also fixed 6 February for further hearing on a rule.

A bench of justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the suo moto order following a newspaper report under a headline "Wrong accused in jail in 33 cases: Sir I am Jahalam, not Salek."

Supreme Court lawyer Amit Das Gupta placed the news report before the High Court.

The report said Jahalam, a jute mill worker, has been serving in jail in place of real accused Abu Salek in 33 cases of embezzling Tk 180 million from Sonali Bank.