TDS Desk:

An application has been filed seeking the seizure of movable and immovable assets of 11 people, including his former wife Samira Haque, in connection with the killing of film actor Salman Shah.

On Tuesday, lawyer Faruk Ahmad, representing case plaintiff Mohammad Alamgir Kumkum, submitted the application to the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana.

During the hearing, the lawyer said the accused had remained absent from court for 29 years, obstructing justice, and sought seizure of all movable and immovable properties of the FIR-named accused to ensure their arrest and the establishment of justice.

Prosecution Sub-Inspector Jinnat Ali said the court, after hearing the petition, kept the matter under consideration.

The case was filed on October 20 by Mohammad Alamgir Kumkum, brother of Salman Shah’s mother Neela Chowdhury, on her behalf.

Renowned actor Salman Shah (Chowdhury Mohammad Shahriar Imon) was found dead at his Eskaton apartment in Dhaka on September 6, 1996. His father, Kamruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, initially filed an unnatural death (UD) case and later, on July 24, 1997, sought to convert it into a murder case.

The court directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the murder allegation alongside the UD case. On November 3, 1997, CID submitted its final report, stating that Salman Shah had committed suicide. Kamruddin Chowdhury rejected the report and filed a revision petition, leading the court on May 19, 2003, to order a judicial inquiry.

After 11 years, on August 3, 2014, Metropolitan Magistrate Imdadul Haque submitted the inquiry report, which also ruled out murder.

Following Kamruddin Chowdhury’s death, Neela Chowdhury continued pursuing the case and on February 10, 2015, filed a naraji (objection) petition against the inquiry report, naming 11 individuals and alleging their involvement in her son’s death.

The case was later investigated by RAB, but on August 21, 2016, Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 Judge Imrul Qayesh ordered the force to halt the investigation following objections from the state. The probe was then handed over to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).

After four years, on February 25, 2020, PBI submitted its final report, stating that no evidence of murder had been found after analyzing seized evidence and statements from 54 witnesses present at the time of the incident.

According to the report, Salman Shah took his own life due to mental distress arising from family conflicts, his relationship with actress Shabnur, and marital discord with his wife Samira Haque, which worsened after he was separated from his mother.

Dissatisfied with the findings, Neela Chowdhury sought further investigation. However, on October 31, 2021, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mamunur Rashid accepted the PBI report and ordered the discharge of the accused.

The family later filed a revision petition with the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court. On June 12, 2022, the court accepted the petition, though hearings were delayed for various reasons.

Finally, on October 20, Dhaka’s 6th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Jannatul Ferdous Ibne Haque allowed the revision petition filed by Salman Shah’s mother, ordered the registration of a murder case incorporating allegations made by Kamruddin Chowdhury and the statement of Rizvi Ahmed alias Farhad, and directed Ramna Model Police Station to investigate and submit a report.

In the case statement, Mohammad Alamgir alleged that the named and unidentified absconding accused, acting with prior planning and in collusion, murdered Salman Shah on September 6, 1996.