Ex-IGP Benazir must appear before ACC Sunday, no more time extensions

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will not be giving any more time to former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed for his interrogation over allegations of corruption and possessing illegal wealth. 

ACC lawyer Md Khurshid Alam Khan said this while talking to reporters at the Supreme Court premises on Thursday.

Benazir Ahmed is scheduled to appear before ACC on Sunday.

Khurshid Alam Khan said the investigation against former IGP Benazir Ahmed and his family members over the allegation of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income is going on in full force. 

More evidence has been found against him. Although he had taken time before, the ACC will not allow any more time, he added.

On May 28, notices were sent to Benazir and his wife and children for interrogation. In the notice, Benazir was asked to appear before the ACC on June 6 and his wife and children on June 9. 

But on June 5, Benazir's lawyer sought 15 more days from the ACC office.

The application was made to the deputy director of the ACC seeking time. A new date is then given.

Benazir served as IGP from April 2020 to September 2022 and as director general of the Rapid Action Battalion from January 2015 to April 2020. 

He also served as commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for an extended period.

ACC officials said court orders had been issued for the seizure of Benazir’s assets discovered so far.

In total, 12 flats in Dhaka have been identified in the name of Benazir Ahmed's family, including an earlier discovery of four flats in Gulshan.

Following an application by the ACC, Dhaka Senior Special Judge Mohammed Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain recently ordered the seizure of eight flats belonging to Benazir Ahmed's family. 

The court also ordered the seizure of approximately 76 bighas (25 acres) of land and shares in different companies.

Previously, the court had ordered the seizure of 621 bighas of land in Gopalganj, Madaripur, Cox's Bazar and Savar in Dhaka, shares in 19 companies, and four flats in Gulshan in two phases in the name of Benazir Ahmed and his family.

At that time, the court also ordered the freezing of Tk30 lakh in savings certificates, 33 bank accounts and three BO accounts (beneficiary owner's accounts for share trading).