Court orders seizure of Tk1.11cr assets of Diamond World MD's wife
Unusual transactions amounting to Tk213.29 crore were conducted through eight bank accounts in her name and in the names of institutions linked to her interests, according to ACC
A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of commercial space, shops and land owned by Sabita Agarwala, wife of Diamond World MD and Awami League leader Dilip Kumar Agarwala, with the total acquisition value of the assets estimated at Tk1.11 crore.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez passed the order today (6 January), following an application filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said the court's bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain.
The seized assets include a 239.37-square-foot commercial space in Siddheswari under the Ramna area of the capital; shops and land at an under-construction market at Theme Omar Plaza in Boalia, Rajshahi; and two plots of land measuring 0.11 acre and 0.0325 acre in Chuadanga Sadar upazila.
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ACC Assistant Director and investigation officer of the case, Sajjad Hossain, submitted the application seeking seizure of the properties.
According to the application, the accused, Sabita Agarwal, 51, acquired movable and immovable assets worth Tk45.71 crore through dishonest means, inconsistent with her known sources of income, and retained possession of those assets.
It further alleged that unusual transactions amounting to Tk213.29 crore were conducted through eight bank accounts in her name and in the names of institutions linked to her interests.
The ACC stated that the accused attempted to conceal the illegal sources of money obtained through corruption and bribery by transferring, converting and relocating the proceeds, constituting offences under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
An investigation officer has been appointed to submit a probe report.
During the investigation, a review of records and information indicated that attempts were being made to transfer or dispose of immovable assets owned by the accused or linked to her interests.
The ACC warned that transferring the assets before disposal of the case could cause irreparable loss.
