The Enforcement Directorate will question the Puducherry Lt Governor, Mr Iqbal Singh, and the Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary, Mr Vijay Shankar Pandey, in connection with the passport procured by stud farm owner Mr Hasan Ali Khan and some investments done by him abroad.

Sources said summons have been already issued to Mr Iqbal while the same to Mr Pandey will be issued next week following the questioning of a Bihar politician Mr Amalendu Pandey by the Directorate in Mumbai.

They said the two will be questioned with regard to procurement of passport by Mr Khan and some investments that he did at foreign shores.

The ED is mulling to question Mr Ali’s aide Mr Kashinath Tapuria, currently in the agency’s custody, after similar leads emerged in the case following the questioning of the politician.

Mr Pandey was grilled on April 14 by the ED for allegedly procuring passport from Patna for Mr Khan by forging the documents.

The ED, which summoned Mr Pandey to appear before it, had mentioned in its remand application that it was necessary to question him regarding the transactions of Mr Khan in Singapore and also to find out the reasons for obtaining the second passport from Patna.

Mr Hasa Ali Khan, Mr Pandey and Mr Tapuria had allegedly travelled to Singapore in 1997 to open an account in the United Bank of Switzerland. Mr Khan is accused of massive money-laundering, tax evasion and stashing away huge amounts in foreign banks.

According to a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Mr Hasan Ali Khan and Mr Tapuria owe the Government about Rs 75,000 crore in taxes.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW