ACC sues ex-state minister Swapan, wife for acquiring illegal wealth

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against former state minister for Rural Development and Co-operatives Swapan Bhattacharjee and his wife Tandra Bhattacharjee for allegedly acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income.

ACC assistant directors Al Amin and Khorshed Alam filed the cases at the anti-graft body's Jashore office today (24 December), ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain told The Business Standard.

According to the case filed by Assistant Director Al Amin, Swapan Bhattacharjee allegedly accumulated illegal assets through illicit transactions and bribery, which he concealed through 19 bank accounts. The case has been filed on charge of illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering. 

The case mentions that Bhattacharjee holds assets worth Tk2.48 crore and the ACC has identified suspicious transactions totaling Tk41.64 crore across 19 bank accounts. He is accused of laundering money obtained through corruption and bribery to conceal it.

Assistant Director Khorshed Alam's case states that Tandra Bhattacharjee, in collusion with her husband, allegedly acquired illegal immovable assets, managed through 10 bank accounts. The case alleges that she obtained assets worth Tk5.55 crore, which is inconsistent with her declared income. 

Furthermore, suspicious transactions totaling Tk10.36 crore have been identified across these 10 accounts, leading to charges of money laundering.

ACC Jashore Deputy Director Md Al Amin said the investigation into Swapan Bhattacharjee and his wife was conducted by the ACC head office, and the cases were filed following preliminary findings of illegal asset acquisition.