Dhaka: The High Court on Thursday acquitted former Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda of charges in an extortion case filed in 2007.

The HC single bench of Justice M Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan passed the order after the final hearing of a petition filed by Nazmul Huda, said assistant attorney general Khandaker Modarres Elahi Tiru.

He, however, they will move the Appellate Division against the HC order.

On June 12, 2008, Judge of the Fifth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka Mohammad Abu Mohsin sentenced Barrister Nazmul Huda to 12 years’ rigorous imprisonment and acquitted his wife Advocate Sigma Huda in the extortion case.

The court also fined him Tk 50,000, in default, to suffer six more months in prison.

According to the prosecution, Huda couple demanded two Maruti cars from former BNP MP GM Siraj for weekly ‘Khaborer Antaralay’ published by Sigma Huda on February 23 in 2003 as toll.

Later, GM Siraj gave an 800cc Maruti car to Huda following life threat.

On July 29, 2007, GM Siraj filed the extortion case against the Huda couple with Dhanmondi Police Station.