The High Court on Sunday stayed the proceedings of a case against City Group Chairman and four others.
The HC bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajol and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher came up with the order following a writ petition filed by the accused. Senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir represented them before the court.
The case was filed by Ahmed Zobayer, a former director of Somoy Television, alleging fraud and misappropriation of advertisement dues.
On July 7, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Israt Jahan issued arrest warrants against five accused, including City Group Managing Director Md Hasan, after they failed to appear before the court on the scheduled date.
According to the case statement, the accused allegedly misappropriated Tk 53.46 million (Tk 5.35 crore) in advertisement bills owed to Somoy Media Ltd, the company that operates Somoy Television.
The other accused are former Somoy Television managing director Shampa Rahman, former director Morshedul Islam, former Head of Marketing Md Ahsanul Islam, and former senior manager (Marketing) Ayesha Siddika.
During the July 7 hearing, lawyers for the accused sought withdrawal of the case, but the magistrate rejected the plea and ordered the issuance of arrest warrants.
Following today's High Court order, all proceedings in the case, including the warrants, will remain stayed.
