The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed another graft case against People's Leasing and Financial Services (PLFS) Chairman Uzzal Kumar Nandi, who is a close associate of notorious scammer Prashanta Kumar Halder, also known as PK Halder.
The accused amassed wealth worth Tk12.68 crore, says the graft watchdog.
ACC Assistant Director Tapos Kanti Bala filed the case with the commission's Integrated District Office, Dhaka-1 on Sunday.
Muhammad Arif Sadek, deputy director (Public Relations) of ACC, confirmed the filing of the case to Dhaka Tribune.
Earlier, Uzzal Kumar Nandi had given a confessional statement in another case against PK Halder over the plundering of thousands of crores of taka from International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL) and PLFS.
In his confessional statement, Uzzal Kumar Nandi said he, as the PLFS managing director, had paid PK Halder Tk200,000 per month on ILFSL employee Shah Alam's instructions.
He added that PK Halder used another PLFS and ILFSL officer, SK Sur Chowdhury, to manage various irregularities.
Dhaka Tribune could not reach SK Sur Chowdhury for comment.
So far, alltogether 40 cases have been registered against PK Halder and his associates by the ACC.
Nandi covered up wealth info
The graft watchdog asked Nandi to submit a wealth statement on July 7, 2021, but the accused concealed his movable wealth information.
He submitted a statement that put his immovable wealth worth at Tk14.84 crore in the share business, Tk99 lakh in movable assets, and Tk1.39 crore in immovable assets.
However, the commission could not find any bank loan against his name or any other sources for over Tk12.68 crore out of his obtained total amount of Tk14.84 crore.
Nandi showed investment of only Tk98 lakh in the construction of a seven-storey building on Muradpur Road in South Daniya, Dhaka, but the commission has found evidence that he has actually invested over Tk1 crore.
He took over TK12.24 crore from financial institutions without showing any mortgage, using three loan receivers - Roton Kumar Bishshash, Onongo Muhon Roy, and Rajib Soume. The commission did not find any proper evidence on this matter.
The accused also showed over TK1.83 crore as income tax return for fiscal year 2018-19, but the commission could not find legitimate sources of Tk11,00,000.
Who is Uzzal Kumar Nandi?
Nandi has been the chairman of the Board of Directors of Northern Jute Manufacturing Company Limited since April 2015.
He is also the chairman of People's Leasing and Financial Services Limited and Anan Chemical Industries Limited. Moreover, he is the proprietor of Uzzal Nandi & Co. Chartered Accountants, according to ACC files.
Previously he was the Chief Financial Officer of Golden Life Insurance Limited from September 2010 to 2013 and Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of Industrial and Infrastructure Development Finance company Limited from 2008 to 2010 respectively.