The Anti-Corruption Commission is preparing to file a case against former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed and his family members, as the inquiry into allegations of amassing illegal wealth against them is now in the final stage.
The former IGP is scheduled to appear before the ACC鈥檚 three-member inquiry team led by its deputy director Hafizul Islam today at the commission headquarters in Dhaka to give his statement over the allegations.
However, the appearance of Benazir before the commission is unlikely, as he reportedly left the country on May 4 amid allegations of amassing illegal wealth and is now staying there.聽
Contacted, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said on Saturday that 鈥業f he [Benazir] fails to appear on Sunday, legal measures as per the law will follow.鈥�
鈥楾he law allows no further time if he fails to appear,鈥� he said, adding that now the commission would take a decision about the next course of action.
On May 28, the ACC summoned Benazir and his family members to appear before the commission at its Segun Bagicha headquarters in Dhaka on June 6 and June 9, but none responded to it.
Later, the ACC fixed June 23 for Benazir and June 24 for his wife and daughters to appear before the commission.
Earlier, ACC commissioner [investigation] Md Zahurul Haque told journalists 鈥榠f he does not come to the commission, it must be assumed that he [Benazir] has nothing to say about the allegations.鈥�
Earlier, in three phases, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court ordered the seizure of a huge amount of movable and immovable assets belonging to Benazir and his family members following ACC petitions.
In terms of wealth, the court ordered the seizure of a total of 697 bigha of land in Gopalganj, Madaripur, Cox鈥檚 Bazar, Bandarban, and Narayanganj districts, 12 flats in Dhaka, and shares in 21 companies in the name of Benazir and his family.
Apart from this, the court also ordered the freezing of a Tk 30 lakh investment in savings certificates, 33 bank accounts, and three BO (Beneficiary Owner鈥檚) accounts.
An ACC official involved with the inquiry said that they were taking preparation to file a case soon against Benazir and his family members on the charges of amassing illegal wealth, as the inquiry was now in its final stage.
鈥榃e have already got all the evidence about the wealth of Benazir and his family, while their tax files are also being collected. Now we are doing final scrutiny of the evidence,鈥� he added.聽
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said that the court ordered the seizure of the wealth as it found evidence of the ill-gotten wealth of Benazir and his family.
The ACC would take a decision about filing of a case against them based on the inquiry report once it was completed, he added.
ACC officials said that they would also send notices to Benazir and his family seeking their accounts of assets.
The commission will file another 鈥榥on-submission鈥� case against Benazir and his family if they do not submit their wealth statements in response to the notice.
The ACC, based on a media report, decided on April 18 to investigate allegations of amassing illegal wealth by Benazir and his family.
Benazir joined the police force as an assistant superintendent of police in February 1988, and retired on September 30, 2022.
On December 10, 2021, the United States declared then IGP Benazir ineligible for entry into the country for 鈥榞ross violations of human rights鈥� while serving as the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion.