The High Court yesterday summoned three top officials of Rupali Bank Ltd to appear before it on February 13, who were exempted from charges in a corruption case over misappropriation of Tk 15 core from the bank.

The three Rupali Bank officials are: its General Manager SM Atiqur Rahman, Deputy General Manager Mohammad Ali and Senior Principal Officer Md Abdus Samad Sarkar.

The court also issued a rule asking them to explain why they should not be tried in the case.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Takukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam came up with the order and rule on a suo moto (voluntary) move, while hearing an appeal filed by Everest Holding and Technologies Ltd's Managing Director AHM Bahauddin, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court in the same case.

Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik told The Daily Star that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Motijheel Police Station on September 16, 2012 against Rupali Bank officials Atiqur, Mohammad Ali and Abdus Samad; along with Abu Borhan Chowdhury and Bahauddin, chairman and managing director respectively of Everest Holding and Technologies Ltd -- on charges of misappropriating Tk 15 crore from Rupali Bank.

The ACC's Deputy Director Md Jahangir Alam on August 29, 2013 submitted the case's charge sheet to the trial court, exempting the Rupali Bank officials from the case.

He, however, implicated Bahauddin, and Bangladesh Bank's Inspector Md Abdul Quddus in the charge sheet, DAG Manik said.

The special judge court-6 of Dhaka on April 12, 2015 sentenced Abu Borhan Chowdhury and Bahauddin to life imprisonment, and acquitted Abdul Quddus of the case, he said, adding that Bahauddin filed an appeal with the HC challenging the trial court verdict.

Barrister Hassan MS Azim appeared for the ACC during yesterday's hearing, while Advocate Md Rezaul Islam Reaz argued for Bahauddin.