Hasan Ali bail: SC reserves order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would pronounce its order on the Centres plea seeking cancellation of the bail granted to alleged money launderer Hasan Ali Khan on September 29. The Bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and S S Nijjar reserved the order after hearing arguments.

Khan,alleged to be the biggest income-tax defaulter in the country,is in custody after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for allegedly stashing away money in tax havens. He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on August 12 but the order was stayed by the Supreme Court. Appearing for the ED,senior advocate A Mariarputham asked the court to clarify an observation in the HC order,which said that unless the investigation into the money laundering cases was completed,Khans other case involving the Nizams jewels and that of securing another passport by allegedly furnishing fake documents could not be proceeded with. This observation,the counsel said,would constrain the special court from proceeding against Khan in other cases.