Evaly founder Rassel’s car auctioned at Tk1.81cr

Seven autos that Evaly top-brass used to ride were auctioned at around Tk3 crore on Thursday including the company CEO Mohammad Rassel's Range Rover at around Tk1.81 crore.     

The money will be deposited to the account of the e-commerce company – which will still owe the customers and merchants at least Tk543 crore.

"Money obtained from the auction will be spent for clearing the liabilities. But it is not possible to refund anyone right now," AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, a retired judge and now the chairman of court nominated Evaly board, told a press briefing after the auction in Dhaka's Dhanmondi.

The expensive auto of the CEO and the deposit-liability gap of Evaly symbolises a few things: how the CEO splashed out hard-earned money of the customers, the company's false "Believe in You" promise and the remnants of a Ponzi scheme built on treachery and lies.    

"There are too many disgruntled customers to whom the e-commerce firm owes money. From the very beginning, we are trying to solidify the capital base," he added.

Photo: TBS

Earlier on 13 January, the board asked the users to return the vehicles registered under Evaly by seven days.

The board chairman said some Evaly individuals are still holding on some company autos despite the order. The board has found four such cars and there could be more. CEO Rassel gave the company vehicles to the individuals.      

Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik said those cars were not used for business purposes, rather Evaly high officials used the cars for personal purposes.

"It's theft. We will wait until Sunday next week and get them arrested if they do not surrender the cars in the meantime," said Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik.  

Cars recovered in future will be put on bidding too, he added.

Apart from Rassel's Range Rover, six autos that were auctioned Thursday were a Honda Vezel, Two Toyota Axio, a Toyota CHR, a Toyota Prius and a Toyota Microbus.

The auction started at 12 pm and continued till around 3 pm. Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik expressed satisfaction over the auction and said they were happy with the price they got.

The board fixed Tk1.6 crore base price for Rassel's Range Rover. After around 35 calls, the luxurious car was bought by an engineer as the top bidder. His closest bidder was a businessman.

Rassel and his wife, who was also at a top post of the firm, are now behind bars in fraud cases.   

At the press briefing, Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik said they need at least six more months to audit the firm, and it will cost around Tk27 lakh.