ED arrests Hasan Ali, to be produced in court

Mumbai, Mar 8 (ANI): Hasan Ali, who is alleged to have stashed away over eight billion dollars in Swiss banks, was arrested late night by the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He will be produced in a court today.

Ali, who was detained in Pune was brought to Mumbai at 6 p.m, was grilled by the ED for nearly six hours before they put him under arrest around midnight.

He has been summoned by the ED to appear in person for investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on March 10.

The Income Tax Tribunal had on March 4 issued a showcause notice to Hasan Ali Khan.

The Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Centre at an hearing in the case last week for failing to crack the whip on black money hoarders and ordered forthwith reinstatement of three key ED officials allegedly transferred midway into the probe in a case of foreign exchange law violation by Ali.

A bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar had also indicated that if the government fails to act, it would be compelled to appoint a special officer for supervising the probe against the offenders.

The court also wanted to know what prevented the government from subjecting Ali and other alleged black money launderers to custodial interrogation.

Expressing its disappointment, the bench remarked: " There are instances when minor offenders are shot down for violating Section 144 CrPC, but you don"t take any action against these people. We are very sorry. All these people are now free."

It then said it was unfortunate that the three key officials of the Enforcement Directorate investigating the black money scandal had been transferred midway into the investigation.

The bench has granted the Center time till tomorrow to file its response failing which it said the court would be forced to pass necessary orders.

While hearing a petition filed by noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani and some former bureaucrats, on the issue of black money stashed abroad by Indians and its repatriation, on February 10, the apex court had asked the government to ensure that Khan does not leave the country. (ANI)