Police uncover judicial document theft ring in Dhaka involving fake court verdicts
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DHAKA — Police have dismantled a sophisticated criminal syndicate accused of stealing original case documents from Dhaka courts to fabricate forged judicial verdicts. Authorities arrested the mastermind, Anwarul Haque, alias Rasel, who posed as a lawyer’s assistant to facilitate the theft and forgery scheme.
The investigation began following the disappearance of sensitive court documents from the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court and the Metropolitan Magistrate-8 Court. In both instances, original case files concerning an arms case and a narcotics case were removed from the courtrooms. Subsequent police inquiries revealed that the stolen documents were used as templates to create authentic-looking, forged acquittal orders.
Police arrested Anwarul along with his accomplice, Ahsan Habib, a computer operator. Also taken into custody was Jamila Akter, also known as Arpa, the wife of Tanvir Ahmed Tanoy—a fugitive defendant in an arms case currently residing in Saudi Arabia.
According to court and police sources, Anwarul brokered a deal with Jamila, promising to secure full acquittals for her husband and her uncle, Rabiul Haque, who is also a fugitive in a separate narcotics case. The agreement was valued at 90,000 BDT. To maintain the illusion of legal success, Anwarul provided Jamila with forged acquittal documents. When court summons were later issued, raising suspicions, Anwarul resorted to stealing the original case files from the courtrooms to ensure his fraudulent documents appeared genuine.
The first theft occurred on July 2 at the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, where Anwarul posed as a lawyer’s aide to gain access to the arms case file. A similar modus operandi was employed on August 3 at the Metropolitan Magistrate-8 Court to secure the narcotics case documentation.
A forensic search of Ahsan Habib’s computer led to the discovery of at least 10 forged verdicts and court orders. Police investigations revealed that Anwarul previously worked as an office assistant for a lawyer, Abdus Sattar, from whose office he allegedly stole client information before beginning his fraudulent activities in March.
During interrogation, Jamila provided a confessional statement to a metropolitan magistrate, claiming she was unaware the documents were stolen and believed Anwarul was a legitimate legal aide acting on her husband’s behalf. She has since been remanded to prison. Anwarul and Habib remain in police custody as investigators continue to search for the counterfeit seals used in the fraud.
Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruki condemned the breach, describing the theft of court records and the fabrication of judicial orders as a grave criminal offense. He stated that the authorities are investigating whether any licensed attorneys were involved, warning that any legal professional found complicit will face strict disciplinary action, including the potential revocation of their Bar Council membership.
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