HC seeks audit report, list of committee members of Wanderers Club

The High Court has sought the constitution, list of committee members and audit report of the Wanderers Club over its alleged involvement in casino business.

The HC bench of Justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order after hearing the bail petition of Joy Gopal Sarker, who was arrested in connection with the casino business.

The court asked the defense lawyers to submit the documents on Tuesday for examination.

Deputy Attorney General Amin Uddin Manik said that on Monday, the court had heard six petitions filed by Joy Gopal, club secretary, in six money laundering and corruption cases filed against him.

During the hearing, the court asked the accused to submit the constitution and audit report of the Wanderers Club, and list of its committee members.

Md Kamrul Islam and Munmun Nahar moved for the accused while Md Khurshid Alam Khan; Shahin Ahmed spoke for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and Deputy Attorney General Amin Uddin Manik, Assistant Attorney Generals Mahjabin Rabbani Deepa and Anna Khanam Koli represented the state.

Joy Gopal was a footballer of Wanderers Club. Following retirement, he became its board member, later serving as cashier. In 2014, he became the general secretary of the club.

According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Joy Gopal introduced Enamul Haque Enu and his brother Rupon Bhuiyan - known as the casino brothers - to this business.

On 13 January last year, the CID arrested Enu and Rupon ─ both leaders of the Awami League's Gendaria wing ─ along with an accomplice from a building in Keraniganj - over alleged ties to an illegal casino business.

A case was later filed against them under the Money Laundering Act at Gandaria Police Station.

The CID arrested Joy Gopal from Lalbagh on 13 July after his name came up in statements provided by Enu and Rupon under Section 164 of in the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The next day, a Dhaka court sent Gopal Sarker to jail.