The High Court (HC) has questioned the legality of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) publicly announcing that it has found “preliminary evidence” of corruption or irregularities at the initial stage of an investigation.
The court issued a rule today (11 November), asking why such statements made through press briefings, and their publication in the media, should not be declared illegal.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Md Bashir Ullah and Justice Md Hamidur Rahman passed the order after hearing a writ petition submitted by former interim government adviser and National Citizen Party spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.
The petition challenges the anti-graft body’s practice of declaring allegations prima facie substantiated through media briefings while investigations or inquiries are still underway.
It also seeks directives barring the commission from making potentially defamatory statements to the media about matters under investigation.
Barrister Md Yusuf Ali and Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa represented the petitioner during the hearing.
The writ was filed in September, and the High Court concluded hearings on it on 4 November.
Earlier, the ACC accused Asif Mahmud of misappropriating several crores of taka when he was performing duty as an adviser.
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