KARACHI: Justice Fahim Ahmed Siddiqui of High Court of Sindh confirmed anticipatory bail granted to Muhammad Ibrahim, Director of Imperial Impex in a case FIR registered by Directorate of Intelligence and Investigations, Pakistan Customs under section 2 (37), 2 (9), 2 (14) (a), 3,6,78 (I) (a) & (d), Section 73 of the Sales Tax Act 1990.

The applicant/accused moved bail before arrest after trial court rejected his bail plea on 23-2-2018. The SHC bench granted interim bail to the accused in the first instance. The accused was blamed for making fake invoices and availing input tax adjustment to the tune of millions of rupees (Rupees 33,435 million) against fake purchases of raw material, services etc worth rupees 1,95, 442 million during Oct 2008-2009. A notice under section 25 was sent on registered address but returned that no office exists.

The matter was then sent up for adjudication in which the applicant/accused was exonerated in respect of the alleged tax evasion. The high court bench noted that name of the applicant accused came abruptly in Supplementary Final Challan without assigning any specific role to him. The court further noted that the accused/applicant is not the main accused and that his allegedly a beneficiary which is also doubtful in view of adjudication  by the Assistant Commissioner IR. The bench found it fit to confirm the interim bail extended to the applicant accused dated 28-2-2018.