Key RDA graft suspect denied bail

A division bench of the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court, comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Sardar Akbar Ali, has rejected the bail application of Jamal Taj, the key accused in a reference involving the embezzlement of Rs2 billion transferred in installments from the official account of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

Jamal Taj is the brother of the main accused, Junaid Taj, who was serving as deputy director finance at the RDA. According to the case, on Junaid Taj's instructions, stenographer Jahangir transferred the funds without justification into his own account, his wife's account and the personal account of Jamal Taj, and the money was misappropriated.

The NAB prosecutor presented transaction reports in court showing the transfer of millions of rupees from the official RDA account to the accused's personal account. The court was informed that co-accused Jahangir had entered into a plea bargain and deposited his share of the looted amount.

The prosecutor said that all accused individuals, including those whose wives' and relatives' accounts were used to transfer funds, were being arrested.

He argued that if Jamal Taj were granted bail, he could flee abroad, adding that he, too, could opt for a plea bargain like his accomplice and return the looted amount.

The defence counsel requested bail, proposing that NAB could take custody of the accused's passport and national identity card.