SC upholds Tk20 lakh compensation for ex-Sonali Bank official in 40-yr-old false case

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld the verdict requiring Sonali Bank to pay Tk20 lakh in compensation for filing a false case against its former official four decades ago.

An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed disposed of the review petition filed by the bank today (24 July), according to court sources.

Earlier on 8 December 2024, the SC ordered that the elderly defendant be compensated with Tk20 lakh for the harassment and legal expenses caused by the false allegations. Sonali Bank has been directed to pay the amount within three months and submit a compliance report to the court.

A three-judge bench led by senior Appellate Division Judge Md Ashfaqul Islam delivered the verdict that day. Barrister Omar Faruk represented the accused Harendranath Chandra in court.

According to case documents, Harendranath Chandra, a resident of Helalpur village in Khoksa, Kushtia, spent 40 years battling the case in court.

Four decades ago, he and eight others were accused of embezzling Tk16 lakh from the bank. Despite being acquitted, the Sonali Bank authorities appealed, prolonging the case.

After completing his BA, Harendranath joined the bank in Dhaka as a cashier-cum-clerk in December 1979 and was promoted to senior cashier-cum-clerk after three years, later transferring to the Jatrabari branch.

In 1985, a remittance of Tk16.16 lakh was transferred from the branch to the local office, with receipt confirmed in writing. However, a subsequent internal investigation claimed the funds were missing.

Later that year, the bank filed a departmental case against Harendranath and eight others for embezzlement, suspending them in March 1986.

In February 1986, a Dhaka court sentenced Harendranath to seven years in prison in another case for failing to deposit a customer's money. Several others were also sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment. He was released from prison in 1990.

Earlier, in July 1985, the then Anti-Corruption Bureau filed a criminal case against Harendranath and eight others with the Dhaka Special Court on charges of embezzlement. However, in November 1986, all the accused, including Harendranath, were acquitted.

After losing the case, the bank authorities filed another case against Harendranath and the others in the Money Loan Court in 1988. In a unilateral verdict, the court found them guilty and ordered them to repay the entire amount.

Harendranath filed an appeal (miss case) against this verdict, and in August 1992, the Joint District Judge's Court of Dhaka accepted the appeal and quashed the trial court's order.

Sonali Bank later appealed this verdict with the High Court in 2019, but the High Court dismissed the appeal in August 2022. The bank then filed a leave to appeal against the High Court's verdict on 5 February last year.