Dhaka: The High Court on Wednesday issued five separate rules seeking explanation as to why the owners of Apan Jewellers should not be granted interim bail in five money laundering cases filed against them.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim issued the rules as owners Dilzar Ahmed, Gulzar Ahmed and Azad Ahmed filed separate petitions seeking bail.

The three owners were sent to jail on expiry of their one-day remand on November 6.

On August 12, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) filed five cases against the three owners of Apan Jewellers after 15 maunds of illegal gold and some diamond jewellery were recovered from its branches.

Five CIID assistant revenue officers filed the cases with Gulshan Police Station, Dhanmondi Police Station, Ramna Police Station and Uttara Police Station following the directives of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

Apan Jewellers owners came to limelight after the rape of two private university girls by Shafat Ahmed, son of Dildar Ahmed, and his cohort in a Banani hotel.

One of the rape victims filed a case with Banani Police Station on May 6 last accusing five people, including Shafat.