ACC to probe Sinha for 'graft, power abuse'

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will be investigating the case filed against former chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on the charge of misuse of power and corruption.

ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood made the announcement yesterday, adding that an enquiry was already underway into allegations made against Sinha's younger brother.

“We've begun an enquiry into the allegation that his younger brother, Ananta Kumar Sinha, had illegally sent Tk 2.3 crore to New Jersey,” Iqbal told reporters at ACC's Segunbagicha headquarters.

Former BNP minister Barrister Nazmul Huda filed the case against Sinha with Shahbag Police Station on September 27.

ACC's Public Relations Officer (PRO) Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya said they received a court order yesterday morning which directed the commission to probe the matter.

The commission has already appointed its director Syed Iqbal Hossain to probe the case, he said.

Sinha, the 21st chief justice of the country, resigned on November 10 last year while he was abroad.

An autobiography of his, titled “A Broken Dream: Rule of Law, Human Rights and Democracy” came out on September 16 of this year.

Lalitmohan-Dhanabati Memorial Foundation holds the copyright of the book.

In his autobiography, Sinha wrote about his early life, his appointment as chief justice of Bangladesh, the separation of power and the independence of judiciary, the 16th amendment to the constitution and its aftermath, ethical values of judges of the highest court and politicians, and the circumstances behind his resignation.

The former chief justice on Saturday said he had sought political asylum in the United States. He also told the BBC Bangla Service on Sunday that his life was at risk in Bangladesh.