Court orders seizure of tax records of ex-mayor Taposh and his wife amid graft probe
Taposh is accused of amassing assets worth Tk73.19 crore during his tenure “through abuse of power and corruption”, allegedly inconsistent with his known sources of income
A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and his wife Afrin Taposh amid an ongoing corruption investigation.
The order came today (30 November) from Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, following two separate petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed.
In the petitions, ACC assistant director and investigation officer Md Ferdous Rahman sought court approval to confiscate the couple's tax files for examination.
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According to the petition concerning the former mayor, Taposh is accused of amassing assets worth Tk73.19 crore during his tenure "through abuse of power and corruption", allegedly inconsistent with his known sources of income.
The ACC claims he held 27 bank accounts through which Tk539.16 crore and $517,527 were transacted in what investigators describe as "abnormal and suspicious" movements of funds.
The petition states that such transactions amount to offences punishable under the ACC Act and the Money Laundering Prevention Act. It argues that for the sake of a fair investigation, it is "essential to seize and review all permanent and miscellaneous sections of his income tax records from the beginning to the latest filings".
In the second petition, the ACC alleges that Afrin Taposh, "in collusion" with her husband, unlawfully acquired Tk6.40 crore in assets beyond known income sources. Investigators also cite nine bank accounts through which Tk70.89 crore and $963 were allegedly moved through "abnormal and suspicious transactions".
The ACC states these actions constitute offences under the ACC Act, the Money Laundering Prevention Act, and Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetment. It too argues that a full seizure and review of Afrin Taposh's tax files is "indispensable for proper investigation".
Both petitions were granted by the court.
