The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday threw off a series of cases against the co-accused in the cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission against bigwigs like ex-ministers and lawmaker for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information.

Upon separate petitions, a division bench comprising Justice M Abdur Rashid and Justice M Ashfaqul Islam passed the orders quashing parts of the cases involving the petitioners-mostly spouses and wards of the high-profile persons.

Those exonerated by orders of the higher court are former Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan's wife Nasrin Khan, his daughter-in-law Shama Shajnin Khan, former deputy minister Ruhul Quddus Dulu's wife Sabina Yasmin, former Awami League MP Kamal Majumder's wife Shahida Kamal, Dhaka City Corporation ward commissioner M Quyyum's wife Shahin Ara Begum and Daily Jugantor owner Nurul Islam Babul's son Shamim Islam.

They were tied with their family heads in the cases for allegedly assisting the main accused in committing the offences.

The High Court quashed the cases on grounds of "non-compliance with the prescribed law and rules", court sources said.

In order to file a wealth-related case against any person, the ACC needs to issue notices separately-and the set procedure was not followed in these cases, the court observed.