Dhaka, Dec 10 (V7N) – The High Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking an investigation into allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth involving nearly 50 judges and judicial officials of subordinate courts across Bangladesh.

The bench, comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury, delivered the dismissal order on Tuesday.

The writ petition, filed by Advocate Md Amimul Ehsan Zobair, referenced a media report suggesting the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had evidence of corruption among judicial officials. However, the state, represented by Additional Attorney General Arshadur Rauf, confirmed that no such report existed.

The court observed that filing a writ based solely on unsubstantiated media reports was inappropriate and subsequently dismissed the petition outright.

The writ relied on an October 16 report from a national daily titled “Unbelievable Wealth of Nearly Fifty Judges and Officials: Hundreds of Crores in Their Accounts.” The report claimed that over 50 judicial officials had amassed vast amounts of wealth through illegal means, including luxurious apartments, land, and assets in Canada and other locations.

The ACC allegedly uncovered evidence of undeclared assets held in others' names during a covert investigation. The report suggested that public inquiries into these officials were imminent, which could lead to further revelations and legal actions.

The allegations also linked the accumulation of wealth to irregularities within the judiciary over the past decade, particularly following the January 5, 2014, national election and the appointment of Anisul Huq as law minister. According to the report, certain officials abused their positions, engaging in corruption, fraud, and forgery after gaining the minister’s trust.

The dismissal of the writ underscores the court's stance that petitions lacking concrete evidence cannot form the basis for judicial inquiry.

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