HC acquits Babar in illegal arms case, overturning 17-year jail sentence
The former state minister for home affairs was sentenced to 17 years in jail on 30 October 2007
The High Court (HC) has acquitted former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar of all charges in an illegal weapons possession case, overturning his previous 17-year prison sentence.
The bench of Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasrin Akhtar delivered the verdict today (19 March) after settling Babar's appeal against the trial court's ruling.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir represented Babar in court.
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The illegal arms case against Babar was filed at Gulshan Police Station during the caretaker government's tenure on 3 June 2007 after illegal weapons and ammunition were allegedly recovered from the bedroom of Babar's Gulshan residence during a raid on 28 May 2007.
Following the trial, on 30 October of the same year, Dhaka's Metropolitan Special Tribunal 9 sentenced Babar to 17 years in prison.
He appealed the verdict to the High Court in 2007.
BNP leader Babar had been imprisoned for nearly 17 years. He faced sentences in various cases but was finally released from Dhaka Central Jail on 16 January this year after being acquitted or granted bail in those cases.
The proceedings of this particular case were suspended by order of the High Court.
