ED opposes Hasan Ali bail plea, says he may flee

The Enforcement Directorate has opposed the bail plea of the Pune-based stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan in its reply filed before the sessions court in Mumbai on Thursday, saying, among other things, that he may flee the country if released. The court will hear the bail application on April 26.

As per the ED, Kolkata-based businessman Kashinath Tapuria stated during the questioning that Khan had told him that he (Khan) was procuring a passport from Mumbai, through one Prakash Mehtani.

Tapuriah allegedly told the ED that the transfer of funds from Khan's account in the Swiss bank UBS to his new account in SBC Singapore had not taken place within the validity period of passport issued at Patna, and therefore he was getting a new passport in Mumbai. The agency also says that if Khan is released, he may flee the country.

Khan is in contact with a large number of persons abroad, both foreigners and those of Indian origin, connected with foreign banks, ED's reply says. "Despite the questioning, the true role of Khan's links with them is not revealed."

The ED also says that Khan has acquaintances in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States, and if released on bail, he may tamper with or destroy the evidence, using his foreign contacts.

Tapuria's judicial custody will end on April 15, and his bail application would be heard on April 19. The ED has also sought permission to question Tapuria in the Arthur Road jail, where he is lodged. In another development, film producer and builder Yusuf Lakdawala appeared before the ED in connection with the case on Thursday.

Khan, accused of stashing away billions of dollars in foreign banks, was arrested by ED last month. Now he is in judicial custody.