A Chattogram court on Thursday suspended recording the testimony of Ex-OC Pradeep Kumar Das, a death row convict in Major Sinha (retired)murder case,  in a case over acquiring wealth illegally.

Chattogram Divisional Special Court Judge Munshi Abdul Mazid passed the order during a hearing on a petition submitted by Pradeep’s lawyer.

However, the court said recording testimony of Pradeep’s wife Chumki will continue.

Earlier in the day, the court recorded statements of  Mohammad Riaz Uddin, plaintiff of the case and Assistant Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Pradeep Kumar Das was taken to the Chattogram court on Thursday amid strict security from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur.

“The court fixed January 17 to record the testimonies but it began today. Pradeep’s lawyer appealed for suspending recording of testimony of Pradeep until the High Court’s hearing on his petition seeking the cancellation of the indictment order in the case which the court granted,” said Mahmudul Haque Mahmud, ACC lawyer.

On January 30,  ex-OC Pradeep submitted the petition to the HC seeking cancellation of indictment order and judicial proceedings in this case.

On December 15 last year, a Chattogram court indicted Pradeep in this case.

Earlier on September 1, the court accepted a charge sheet in the graft case against the sacked OC and his wife Chumki.

ACC Chittagong Assistant Director Md Riaz Uddin submitted the charge sheet on July 26.

On August 23 in 2020 ACC filed the case against Pradeep, and his wife for amassing wealth worth Tk 4 crore.

ACC sources said the anti-graft watchdog’s investigation against Pradeep started in 2018.

On April 20 last year, Pradeep and his wife were asked to submit their wealth statement and they submitted their wealth statements in June that year.

After a long investigation, the ACC found evidence that the couple acquired assets worth more than Tk 4 crore illegally.