Hasan Ali Khan to be produced in court today

India’s top tax evader Hasan Ali Khan who was on Monday arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after being grilled in Mumbai is set to be produced in a court on Tuesday.

Ali, who reportedly evaded tax worth Rs 70,000 crore, was booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after he was taken to Mumbai for questioning on black money and tax evasion, reports said.

Khan was earlier taken by the ED to Mumbai from his Pune residence, his lawyer Ramakant Gaur said.

He went to Mumbai from Pune in a black Mercedes car with his family members, but was later arrested late night.

His lawyer initially said Khan cannot be interrogated by the ED in custody since custodial questioning is not allowed.

He can be arrested after investigation, Gaur said.

Earlier, the Income Tax tribunal had asked the 54-year-old Ali to reply to their notice within 15 days. Ali reportedly had not paid his tax evasion penalty worth Rs 40,000 crore, while another report said he owes Indian government tax worth Rs 70,000 crore.

The moves followed a day after the Supreme Court questioned the Centre?s delay in acting tough against black money hoarders and also ordered reinstatement of three important ED officials, who were transferred midway into a probe of alleged foreign exchange law violation by the Pune businessman.

Taking serious note of the government?s failure to crack the whip on the offenders, a bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijar said that it would appoint a special officer to supervise the probe if the government does not act fast.

On Khan?s case, the apex court bench questioned the government over reasons for failing to take him and other alleged offenders to custodial interrogation even though there was enough evidence against them.

The Pune businessman is facing charges of stashing around USD 8 billion in foreign banks and had been earlier served tax notice for about Rs 50,000 crore.

The Supreme Court bench dismissed attempts by Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to make submissions, saying, ?What the hell is going on in this country.?

On the three key Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials transferred abruptly midway through the probe into black money hoarders, the court directed that they be reinstated immediately.

The government has been granted time till Tuesday to file its response, failing which the court would be constrained to pass necessary orders.