Dhaka, March 19 -- The High Court has acquitted former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar in an arms case, overturning a 17-year prison sentence handed down by a trial court.

The bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasreen Akter delivered the verdict on Wednesday following Babar's appeal.

On Oct 30, 2007, Dhaka Metropolitan Special Tribunal-9 jailed Babar for 17 years for possessing an unlicensed revolver at his home.

The court issued the sentence five months after Babar was arrested during the state of emergency at the time.

Lawyer Md Shishir Manir represented Babar at the hearing on Wednesday.

He said: "The joint forces deliberately filed the case seven days after arresting [Babar]. The documents stated ...