Is the govt trying to shield Hasan Ali, asks Oppn

Members of the Opposition on Tuesday questioned the probe against suspected economic offender Hassan Ali, asking if there was 'political pressure' on investigating agencies to go soft on him.

The issue was raised by Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta, who said credibility of investigating agencies like the Enforcement Directorate had come under a cloud after Ali was released on bail, with the court pulling up the agency for not doing its  "home work" properly.

He wanted a statement from the government on the "serious" issue which has "dangerous implications" as Ali was said to be linked to international arms dealers and terrorists. Dasgupta noted that Ali was arrested only after the Supreme Court asked why there has been no custodial interrogation so far.

"We keep targeting the Central Bureau of Investigation and other agencies for working under political pressure. Now the courts are saying so," the CPI member said amid chants of 'shame, shame' by opposition members.

He questioned whether Ali was a "front-man" for some powerful person as "deliberately a soft case" was being pressed against him. Noting that the court has said the "case was weak" and "documents were fabricated", Dasgupta wondered whether the ED was "incapable of proving the charges" against Ali.

"Is there any political pressure on agencies not to act against Ali? This is a dangerous situation," he said, adding, "I wish the government makes a statement. It is good for the government to come clean."

He said some documents of the ED against Ali were also found on the internet.

"This is a serious situation because it brings the government under suspicion," he said.

He was supported by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who said the hefty tax penalty on Ali itself showed there was something wrong.

Yadav said whether the tax liability of Ali, a 53-year-old Pune-based businessman and stud farm owner, was Rs 50 crore or Rs 50,000 crore, the issue was serious and needed to be probed.

"The government should take action. It should also clarify the amount of the penalty imposed on him," he said, seeking a statement from the government.

The SP leader asked why the investigating agencies were not seriously pursuing cases against Ali when no leader of his party had been spared by the CBI.