The High Court on Sunday (Jan 29, 2023) wanted to know what steps have been taken to bring former Banani police inspector (investigation) Sheikh Sohel Rana, a ‘patron’ of e-commerce platform e-Orange, back to Bangladesh from India.
On November 3, 2022, the High Court asked the Home Ministry about the steps taken in this regard. The Home Ministry took two weeks to submit the progress report. As it failed, the court has given another two weeks to the Home Secretary about this matter.
Besides, the NBR chairman was given another two weeks to report whether revenue has been collected against e-Orange transactions.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order.
Barrister Abdul Kaiyum Khan Liton appeared for the writ petitioners in the court while lawyers Shamim Khaled Ahmed, AKM Fazlul Haque and DAG AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the BFIU, ACC and state, respectively.
The High Court also asked them to submit the reports within the next 15 days. At the same time, 19 February has been fixed for the next hearing.
Barrister Kaiyum Khan said the High Court asked to submit a detailed report about E-Orange on November 3. But no one has submitted the details except Bangladesh Bank.
On April 3, 2021, some 547 customers filed a writ petition seeking return of Tk 77.46 crore and directives for investigations into the allegation of money laundering against the company.
The High Court on April 7, 2022 directed the Anti-Corruption Commission and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit to investigate the allegation of money laundering and embezzling customers’ money against e-commerce platform e-Orange and to submit their report within four months.
It also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to the authorities concerned to take legal action against those involved in siphoning off money from the customers of the e-commerce platform after investigation.
The customers of e-Orange ordered products from the e-commerce platform by collecting e-ticket after clearing payments.
But the company did not provide them the products.
Source: United News of Bangladesh