As the interim government takes action against corruption, Orion Group Chairman Obaidul Karim has been named among the top five suspects whose income tax records have been summoned.
Obaidul Karim has faced extensive criticism and allegations of fraud and deception; during the caretaker government's tenure in 2007, he was listed among the top corrupt individuals.
During the events of the 1/11 political changeover, he went into hiding to avoid arrest by joint forces.
However, he could not escape prosecution and sentencing, with 14 cases filed against him, resulting in a total of 48 years of imprisonment across three cases.
Additionally, his wife, Arzuda Karim, and son, Salman Obaidul Karim, were investigated for acquiring wealth through illicit means during the same period.
Following this investigation, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) gathered sufficient evidence to file cases against them.
However, Obaidul Karim used his influence to prevent the ACC from proceeding with the cases.
In 2008, the ACC discovered evidence of nearly Tk500 crore in illegal assets owned by Arzuda Karim and Salman Obaidul Karim.
An ACC source analysing their files reported that the current market value of these assets would be significantly higher.
The official further noted that a renewed investigation would likely reveal an increase in the total value of their assets.
In the asset declaration submitted to the ACC at that time, Obaidul Karim admitted to owning approximately Tk200 crore in assets under his name.
Despite the ACC preparing to file charges, Arzuda Karim and Salman Obaidul Karim filed writ petitions in the High Court, resulting in a halt to the proceedings.
Consequently, the ACC's progress was stalled, exacerbated by delays in hearing dates and the disappearance of key documents—a familiar tactic of Obaidul Karim.
An ACC source revealed that the disparity between the funds embezzled by Obaidul Karim and the wealth uncovered in the ACC's investigation prompted them to launch a probe into his wife and son’s assets.
The investigation uncovered that Arzuda Karim owned approximately Tk300 crore and Salman Obaidul Karim owned at least Tk200 crore.
In response to the ACC's notice, Arzuda Karim submitted an asset declaration on 15 May 2008. She admitted ownership of assets including a three-storey house on 13 kathas in Banani, another three-storey house on 24 kathas in Gulshan, two 3,000-square-foot flats in Gulshan, 50 acres and 17 decimals of land in Savar and Bhaluka, $6,708 across seven credit cards, shares worth Tk243,994,365, a loan of Tk1.8 crore, 4 cars, and other assets amounting to at least Tk98 crore.
However, she failed to provide any sources of income for these assets.
Similarly, Salman Obaidul Karim declared ownership of shares worth Tk658,294,389, $6,088 across four credit cards, 350 tolas of gold jewellery, Tk50 lakh in business capital, and other assets amounting to at least Tk90 crore.
Due to the absence of legitimate income sources for these assets, the ACC was preparing to file cases, but due to changes in government, legal complications, and other factors, the cases were not pursued.
