HYDERABAD: The administrative judge of the Hyderabad Accountability Courtsremanded all accused in the over Rs2.3 billion M6 (Hyderabad-Sulclcur) scam into judicial custody till February 21 on Monday, when they were produced before the judge. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) through an application sought 14-day physical remand of three main accused in the case.

The accused included former Matiari deputy commissioner Adnan Rasheed, former Saeedabad assistant commissioner Mansoor Abbasi, former Sindh Bank area manager Tabish AliShah, tapedar (revenue official) Tharu Khan Pahore, a private person Ashig Kaleri and Zawar Shah, a clerk in the office of the absconding contractor, Rehmatullah Solangi.

The judge fixed the hearing for Feb 21.

The NAB deputy prosecutor general had filed the application for physical remand three accused Adnan Rasheed Mansoor Ali and Tabish Shah -in the case No. 7/22 registered under Section 24(a) of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 on behalf of investigating officer (IO) Irfan Ali.

The IO stated that he was conducting the investigation against the accused for alleged corruption and misuse or embezzlement of funds of the National Highway Authority (NHA) meant for land acquisition for M6 in Matiari in line with the Nov 23, 2022 notification and subsequent authorisation of investigation vide Dec 2, 2022 notification.

IO Irfan Ali said it was revealed during the probe that the accusedin connivance with each other illegally withdrew Rs2,370,073.398 (over Rs2.37bn) from land acquisition officer`s account maintained in Sindh Bank through open bearer cheques without justification which was tantamount to misuse of authority as contemplated under section 9(a) of the NAO, 1999 and misappropriation and embezzlement in the absence of award under section 11 of the LandAcquisitionAct(LAA),1894.

He said the anti-corruption establishment(ACE)andFederal Investigation Agency (FIA) were conducting inquiries into the case. He said NAB Karachi issued a letter to the FIA director general vide Dec 2, 2022 letter to transfer the subject inquiry (No.

59/2022) to NAB after which the FIA transferred the case to NAB vide letter dated Dec 9, 2022.

He said the court of special judge anticorruption (provincial) transferred the case to Accountability Court on NAB`s application.

NAB arrested Zawar Shah, Tharo Khan, Mir Mohammad Suhag and Ashig Hussain KaleriandrecoveredfromthemRs556m cash allegedly embezzled from the M6 project funds. Multiple properties and vehicles worth millions of rupees, purchased with the embezzled money, had been discovered during the process of investigation. The IO said that 35 properties were frozen under section 12 of NAO, 1999 and freezing of the remaining properties was under way.

The IO claimed that during the investigation, properties worth Rs600 million belonging to accused Rehmatullah Solangi and his family members surfaced and them same were frozen under NAO 1999. These properties were not incorporate d in the interim challan filed by the ACE before the provincial anti-corruption court.

Therefore,he added,recovery of additional tangible evidence was required by NAB on the pointation of accused Adnan Rasheed, Mansoor Ali and Tabish Ali Shah.

The IO stated that physical custody of Adnan Rasheed,Mansoor Abbasi and Tabish Ali Shah was essential for the recovery of the remaining amount because new evidence had surfaced during investigation.

He stated that accused Ashig Hussain Kaleri was neither interrogated nor was he nominated in ACE`s interim challan although he was allegedly instrumental and involved in the commissioning of the crime. He further stated that on basis of evidence, Kaleri was arrested and Rs556m in cash was recovered from him.

He claimed that in addition to the cash, properties and vehicles worth millions of rupees purchased by the accused and his family members with the embezzled money, were traced.

Investigation conducted so far and evidences collected revealed that Adnan Rasheed Mansoor Ali and Tabish Shah had played their role in the misappropriation of the funds in collusion with each other.

The IO sought 14-day physical remand of the three accused for interrogation.