The High Court on Wednesday asked authorities concerned to pay Tk 15 lakh to Jaha Alam in compensation for wrongfully confining him in a money embezzlement case.

The court asked for paying the money within one month.

Jaha Alam had languished in jail for three years instead of the real accused in a case for misappropriating Sonali Bank money.

Earlier, the court kept the matter as case awaiting verdict (CAV) completing hearing on rule on February 12.

Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Asaduzzaman and Barrister Zakir Hossain for BRAC Bank Ltd and Sonali Bank respectively.

Hailing from Tangail, Jaha Alam languished in jail for years in 33 cases instead of real culprit Abu Salek involving embezzlement of Tk 18 crore from Sonali Bank.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was first to hold an investigation into confinement of Jaha Alam and disclosed his innocence.

The HC took cognizance of the matter following a newspaper report that innocent suffers due to faults of other.

The High Court passed a suo moto order following the newspaper report. Lawyer Amit Das Gupta drew the court’s attention to the news item.

Jaha Alam was enlarged on bail granted by the apex court on February 3.