PK Halder, two associates granted bail in India

A court in India has granted bail to Prashanta Kumar Halder, a fugitive banker and businessman accused in multiple cases of financial crimes in Bangladesh, in a money laundering case in West Bengal. 

Apart from PK Halder, bail was also granted to his two associates – Swapan Mistry alias Swapan Maitra and Uttam Mistry alias Uttam Maitra, according to media reports.

Judge Prashant Mukherjee of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a law enforcement and economic intelligence agency of India, granted them bail today. 

PK Halder, along with five others, were arrested in Ashoknagar of the Indian state of West Bengal in May 2022. 

The five others are Pranesh Halder, two nephews Swapan Mistry alias Swapan Maitra, Uttam Mistry alias Uttam Maitra, associate Imam Hossain alias Eamon Halder, and PK Halder's alleged girlfriend Amana Sultana alias Sharmi Halder.

PK Halder gets 22-year jail in embezzlement, money laundering case

In January 2021, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh filed five cases against 33 people, including Halder, for allegedly laundering over Tk350 crore of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL).

He had laundered about Tk80 crore to Canada and amassed about Tk426 crore beyond his known sources of income, the case documents said.

Besides, he also committed an offence under the Money Laundering Act by syphoning off money abroad to hide it.

According to the ACC, PK Halder has swindled at least Tk11,000 crore from various organisations.

After investigating the anomalies, ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin submitted a charge sheet against 14 people. On 8 September 2022, the court framed charges against the accused.

Following the arrest of PK Halder, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of India on 15 July 2022 submitted the charge sheet against the accused in the Kolkata court.

In the case of the Money Laundering Act 2002 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, charges were framed in the name of those six accused.