Court grants Fawad bail in fraud case

Ex-PTI leader ordered to pay Rs200,000 in surety bond against his release

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-corruption court granted bail to former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Monday in connection with a fraud case.

Special Judge Ali Nawaz, presiding over the hearing, stipulated that the ex-federal minister could secure his release upon payment of a Rs200,000 surety bond. However, this conditional release hinges on Fawad not being wanted in any other ongoing cases.

Notably, Fawad currently remains in detention due to another case being pursued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The charges against Fawad, his cousin, and frontman Sherbaz, along with other individuals, were brought forth by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in Rawalpindi.

Read Court sends Fawad on physical remand

The case revolves around alleged acceptance of millions in bribes and misuse of authority in connection with the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) and the acquisition of public land for a private housing society situated in the Dina area along the GT Road.

The FIR revealed that Sherbaz played a pivotal role in engaging in corrupt and illegal activities. The ACE Rawalpindi initiated an investigation into the matter in April 2023.

As the probe unfolded, evidence emerged indicating the misuse of power by Sherbaz and Fawad, including the receipt of over Rs10 million from the administration of the private housing society. Based on the inquiry officer's recommendation, a case was formally registered, leading to Fawad's apprehension by the ACE team on November 4.