LAHORE: In a breakthrough in the Model Housing Enclave project, the Lahore National Accountability Bureau has arrested the main suspect, Farhan Cheema, along with five co-suspects.

The suspects were produced before an accountability court, which granted the NAB their 12-day physical remand here on Saturday. They will now be reproduced before the court on March 28.

Cheema is accused of robbing people of millions of rupees through various bogus businesses.

The Lahore NAB had earlier arrested the suspect in October 2017 but he secured his bail from an accountability court after a plea bargain worth Rs620 million with the anti-corruption watchdog.

A NAB official said he has been arrested again for the statements he gave while in custody were found to be misleading and incorrect.

The official said they had so far received claims worth Rs2 billion against the suspect.

The other suspects taken into custody included Chohan Estate’s owner Rashid Bashir and Agha Shahid, and Rizwan Faryad, Sajid Ameen and Saleem Ishtiaq, proprietors of Al-Huda, Al-Ameen and Arham estates, respectively.

Mr Cheema, the official said, was involved in launching bogus housing project and other shady businesses, through which he deprived people of their large amounts.

NAB authorities say action against the suspects involved in deceiving the masses would continue as per directions of Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal.

Meanwhile, the cyber crime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a man wanted for uploading intimate pictures of his former wife on social media.

Accused Syed Junaid Arshad, a former senior superintendent of police, was wanted in FIR No 59/2017.

He was captured late on Friday night on charges of defaming, criminally conspiring against and cyber-stalking his ex-wife.

The FIA DG had announced Rs500,000 head money for his arrest.

Danish Ahmed Ghani, a co-accused in the case, has already been convicted by a court of law.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2019