SC extends Hasan Ali custody

The alleged hawala operator was earlier sent to four days custodial interrogation relating to his three Swiss bank accounts and alleged acts in violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by the apex court. The bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar on March 17 citing extraordinary circumstances had cancelled his bail and stayed the order of Principal Sessions Judge M L Tahaliyani who had released the 53-year-old businessman on bail. The order passed by trial court judge on March 11 refusing Khans custody to the ED prompted the investigating agency to approach the apex court directly,sidestepping the Bombay High Court.

The ED reportedly questioned him about opening of three Swiss bank accounts after 2001 and transfer of 60,000 from the bank lockers. In the normal course,we would have moved the magistrates court in Mumbai,but based on the information we received during the interrogation,we deemed fit to seek more time for interrogation, said Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium.