Hasan Ali in judicial custody till Apr 8

India?s alleged biggest tax evader Hasan Ali was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a Mumbai sessions court on Friday.

Ali was produced before the court last night because his Enforcement Directorate custody ended Friday.

The ED now will have his custody (jail custody) till April 8.

The court also asked the jail authorities to ensure his safety since his lawyer said Ali is being threatened.

The Enforcement Directorate has also arrested Kolkata-based businessman Kashinath Tapuriah after questioning him in Mumbai for allegedly aiding Hasan Ali Khan in money laundering.

Tapuriah, 74, is in ED custody till March 30.

The ED last week got the custody of Ali with the Supreme Court on March 17 staying a Mumbai court order that had granted bail to Ali.

The Supreme Court had first granted four days’ custody to ED to interrogate Hasan Ali.

The 53-year-old Pune businessman was arrested on Mar 7 after he was taken by the ED for interrogation but in a major setback to the ED, a Mumbai sessions court on Mar 11 had granted bail to Ali.

Saying that the ED had failed to provide adequate evidence against Ali?s money-laundering, the Mumbai sessions court had said the agency will not be given his custody.

Ali, reportedly evaded tax worth Rs 70,000 crore.

The action against Ali followed the Supreme Court?s strong words against the government, questioning its failure to crack the whip on black money hoarders.

The ED, earlier this week, raided the Pune residence of Sunil Shinde, Ali?s chartered account.