SC upholds Manju’s acquittal in corruption case

The Supreme Court today upheld a High Court verdict that acquitted Forest and Environment Minister Anwar Hossain Manju of a corruption charge.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha dismissed an appeal filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging the High Court verdict.

On June 10 in 2008, a special judge court in Dhaka sentenced Manju to seven years’ imprisonment in the case filed on charge of taking bribe Tk 75 lakh from a construction company. The HC on August 23, 2010 acquitted Manju of the charges.

The ACC on August 25, 2007 filed the case with Savar Police Station against Manju bringing allegation of taking bribe from the construction company for giving a construction work to the company.

The ACC filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the SC challenging the HC verdict. After hearing the petition, the SC today came up with the verdict.