The High Court on Monday stayed for one month the effectiveness of the notice issued by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID) summoning Raintree Hotel managing director Shah Mohammad Adnan Harun.

An HC bench passed the order following a petition, reports UNB.

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the CIID notice to the Raintree managing irector should not be declared illegal.

Advocate Ahsanul Karim and Barrister Khairul Alam Chowdhury stood for Raintree Hotel while deputy attorney general SM Maniruzzaman represented the state.

On May 15, the CIID summoned Shah Mohammad Adnan Harun to appear before it on May 23 after recovery of liquor by a CIID team from the hotel.

The CIID served the notice under section 166 (3) of Customs Act and under sectior 9(3) of Money Laundering Act.

Following the CIID notice, a counsel of the hotel owner filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the notice.

Earlier, on May 14, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials conducted a drive at Raintree Hotel where two university girls were allegedly raped and seized 10 bottles of foreign liquor from a room of the hotel.