Court orders seizure of ex-MP Shambhu, Shuchona Foundation’s tax files

A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered the seizure of income tax files belonging to former Barguna-1 lawmaker Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu and Shuchona Foundation.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Shahjahan Kabir passed the orders following two separate applications by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Earlier, the applications were filed on behalf of the ACC by its Deputy Assistant Director Khairul Hasan and Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya.

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The application concerning Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu stated that the ACC had filed a case against him for alleged offences punishable under relevant provisions of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the Money Laundering Prevention Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It said the seizure and examination of his income tax files were necessary for a proper investigation to verify the accuracy of his income and expenditure and determine whether he owned any other assets.

The application concerning Shuchona Foundation alleged that the organisation had evaded tax amounting to Tk99.04 lakh from the 2015–16 to the 2024–25 tax years.

It allegedly prepared false records of tax payments through fraud and forgery and showed the amount as income tax expenses in audit reports, thereby misappropriating Tk99.04 lakh in public funds.

The ACC has also filed a case over alleged transactions involving Tk531.77 crore in deposits and Tk465.30 crore in withdrawals through 14 bank accounts held in the foundation’s name.

The application stated that seizing all relevant records and information, including the permanent and miscellaneous sections of the foundation’s income tax files from its inception through the 2024–25 tax year was essential for a proper investigation.