RDA scam suspect denied bail

RAWALPINDI: An accountability court in Rawalpindi has for the second time turned down the bail application of Jamal Taj, described as the central accused in the Rs3 billion fraud case linked to the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

Accountability Court Judge Ejaz Ali announced the reserved verdict and said that, on a prima facie basis, fraud had occurred in the RDA. The court also noted that documentary material, including bank transaction records, was available on the record.

In light of that material, the court ruled that the accused was not entitled to bail.

Case registered by NAB Rawalpindi

The case was registered last year by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi on the basis of a report submitted by the director general of the RDA.

According to investigators, funds were allegedly moved from an official RDA account into the personal bank account of the arrested accused. The court referred to documentary evidence and banking records while rejecting the bail request.

The latest order marks the second time the court has refused bail to Jamal Taj in the same matter.

Background cited in the case

The arrested suspect's brother had served as director finance in the RDA. He later died under mysterious circumstances in Sialkot after the case had been registered.

The matter relates to an alleged fraud scandal involving Rs3 billion in the RDA. Investigators have linked the accused to transfers from the authority's official account, and the prosecution case before the accountability court included documentary evidence as well as bank transaction details.

Based on that assessment, the accountability court declined to grant relief to the accused and dismissed the bail application.

The proceedings are part of the ongoing accountability case being pursued by NAB Rawalpindi following the registration of the reference on the complaint report of the RDA director general.