A Dhaka court on Sunday deferred until Sept 1 the charge framing hearing in a case filed over the alleged fraudulent acquisition of a flat in Gulshan-2 against British MP Tulip Siddiq and former Rajuk assistant legal adviser Sardar Mosharraf Hossain.
Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 passed the order after hearing the matter.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed the development.
He said Sunday had been fixed for the charge framing hearing. However, the defense for Sardar Mosharraf Hossain, who is out on bail, sought additional time to prepare for the hearing. The court subsequently rescheduled the hearing for Sept 1.
Earlier, on April 8, Judge Md Sabbir Faiz of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court transferred the case to Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 after finding it ready for trial.
On February 18, the court took cognizance of the charge sheet against Tulip Siddiq and Sardar Mosharraf Hossain. On the same day, it issued arrest warrants against both accused.
The ACC filed the case on April 15 last year against Tulip Siddiq, former Rajuk Assistant Legal Adviser Shah Md Khosruzzaman, and former Assistant Legal Adviser-1 Sardar Mosharraf Hossain, alleging that they illegally obtained a flat owned by Eastern Housing Limited in Gulshan through abuse of power.
According to the case statement, the accused conspired to abuse their authority to unlawfully occupy Flat No. B/201 at House Nos. 5A and 5B (old), currently House No. 113, 11B (new), Road No. 71, Gulshan-2, without making any payment. They later had the property registered.
Following the filing of the case, accused Shah Md Khosruzzaman filed a writ petition with the High Court in July while the investigation was underway. Acting on the petition, the High Court stayed the investigation against him for three months. The ACC later moved the Chamber Court but received "no order."
After completing the investigation on December 11, the ACC submitted the charge sheet against Tulip Siddiq and Sardar Mosharraf Hossain under Sections 161, 165A, 467, 468, 471, and 109 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.