Evali CEO Mohammad Russell and his wife Shamima Nasrin were picked up from their home in Mohammadpur on Thursday afternoon. After the arrest, he was taken to the ABAB headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka.
Khondker Al Moin, Director of RAB’s Legal and Media Department, said that after clients filed suits against them, they were arrested for fraud and were taken to RAB headquarters.
Earlier, at around 3:30 pm, RAB-2 personnel surrounded the Mohammadpur residences of Russel and Shamima.
On Wednesday (September 15th) evening, an Evaly customer named Arif Baker allegedly placed an order of 3,10,597 taka worth of products from Evaly and filed a lawsuit against the Gulshan Police Department against Evaly’s CEO Mohammad Russel and His wife chairman Shamima Nasrin.
Arif Baker is a resident of Purbogram in Rupganj Upazila Village, Narayanganj District.
In this case, Evaly MD Mohammad Russel was designated as the first defendant, and the chairman Shamima Nasrin was the second defendant.
In addition, several others have been indicted in the case, who have been described as “unknown”. On May 2, Arif saw attractive offers on his website and ordered goods worth Rs 10,10,59 from Ivali in May and June, the case statement said. His friends also ordered goods from Evali and paid in advance.
The company was committed to refund the paid amount if the goods were not delivered within seven to 45 working days, said Arif.
As the products were not delivered, Arif called Evaly’s customer care several times and on September 5, for the last time, but no solution was given, he added.
After Evaly failed to deliver the products and refund the money, Arif and his friends went to Evaly’s head office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi on September 10.
When they wanted to meet Evaly CEO Rassel, he (Rassel) became angry and shouted at them, Arif mentioned in the case statement.
“Russel came out from his office room, tried to intimidate us and misbehaved, and refused to give us the products we ordered or refunds. I am mentally and financially at loss,” said Arif.
The case statement reads that Arif and his friends ordered the e-commerce platform for some products. Later, Arif allegedly paid Tk 3,10,597 to the Evaly through online between May 29 and June 16 on a promise that the Evaly will return full amount if it failed to deliver the products within 7 to 45 working days after the order.
Evaly, the controversial e-commerce platform, embezzled money of some 700-800 customers like Arif, the case statement also said.
