The CEC has all along been denying that he signed the approval order for lodging the appeal or that the Election Commission (EC) approved the move.

The latest twist in the high-profile tale has left the EC abuzz with speculation as to how the CEC's signature found its way into the approval order when he himself is denying any role in the filing of appeal.

Many at the EC Secretariat see the controversy an outcome of the long-drawn rift between CEC MA Syed and EC Secretary SM Zakaria and added the Secretariat officials are now split into two camps.

An official close to the CEC, on condition of anonymity, said, "It is likely that he was tricked into signing the file related to the appeal. This is why he cannot clearly oppose the appeal, nor can he support it."

"The CEC now appears stuck in deep mud. If he says that he has been tricked into signing the appeal papers, a government lobby that wants his removal will accuse him of failing to carry out his constitutional responsibilities," he added.

This lobby left its mark in the 14th amendment to the constitution, which increased the retirement age of all constitutional posts excepting those in the EC. It means that the CEC will retire by the next election.

The CEC on Saturday told The Daily Star, "It is just a fraud as we have neither filed any appeal nor given permission to anybody to file it." He made the comment when the petitioners at the Appellate Division claimed that the EC has filed the appeal.

He also made similar remarks while talking to Dr Kamal Hossain on the phone, sources said.

Additional Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali told the court after producing the EC file that the CEC himself created controversy and confusion about transparency of the petitioner by denying his role to the media.

Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, counsel of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh candidate in the Dhaka-10 seat Abdul Mannan in whose favour the stay order was granted, said: "The CEC must explain (to clear this confusion)."

The Daily Star tried to take Syed's comment on the issue and when journalists met him at his chamber, a visibly dumbfounded Syed did not utter a single word despite a barrage of questions. He looked shattered when he was heading home at 4:00pm.

A section of 'over-enthusiastic' EC officials led by the secretary filed the appeal against the HC stay order in an unusual pace . They contacted the Office of Attorney General (OAG) although according to norm they are to contact their own lawyers first.

An assistant attorney general also joined them and collected the warrant of attorney from the EC to file the appeal, the sources added.

The EC officials led by the secretary yesterday spent a busy day holding meeting at his office for several hours and when journalists went there to meet them, they regretted not talking to them.

The OAG's involvement in the legal process, meanwhile, has raised many eyebrows since the government is not the party to the case.