Embezzling Tk 477 crore: HC upholds directive asking ACC to probe allegations

The High Court today upheld its directive that asked the Anti-Corruption Commission to probe allegations against state-owned medicine manufacturer Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) of embezzling Tk 477 crore.

The court rejected the application filed by the managing director of the EDCL seeking withdrawal of its directive.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Mohammad Showkat Ali Chowdhury passed the order after ACC's lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the court that the commission will submit an application to it opposing the EDCL MD's application.

The court asked the ACC to submit an application to it by May 14 and fixed May 21 for further hearing on this issue.

The High Court on March 12 ordered the ACC to investigate the allegations of 32 irregularities during audit and Tk 477 crore embezzlement against the company.

Following a newspaper report, the HC on March 12 issued a suomoto (voluntary) order asking ACC to conduct enquiry into the allegations of 32 irregularities during audit and Tk 477 crore embezzlement against EDCL and to submit the probe report in two months.