Supreme Court slams ED over black money
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the status report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on black money.
Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium on Monday submitted the ED?s report on black money probe in a sealed cover at the apex court.
Reviewing the status report, a bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar said: ?Going by the status report submitted on probe by Enforcement Directorate, it is very difficult for us to be calm and quiet.?
The report is said to have only focused on India?s alleged biggest tax evader Hasan Ali, while there are no other names accused of stocking billions of dollars in foreign bank accounts. It said Ali?s life is in danger and that he should be given special protection.
“No further information is coming out. The whole concentration is on one individual what about others? What is the source of income?” the bench of asked Subramanium.
“Please tell us about the disclosure of names. Why it is not disclosed? Let the people of this country know,” the bench said.
The SC slammed the investigating agency and asked if it was sleeping since 2008.
“Why all these agencies were sleeping since 2008? Why it moved when we stepped in? If writ petition had not been filed, nothing would have happened,” the bench said.
The Supreme Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani.
Earlier on Friday, Ali was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a Mumbai sessions court.
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.
Take off the Security from Sharad Pawar and give it to Hasan Ali and ED Officers. Hasan Ali would speak and whole file on Black Money would be ready. ED – Hasan Ali match on Corrupt Congress Politicians is getting more interesting. Thanks SC to consider RAW – IB to investigate, because the Black Money A/C Holders are right there in Parliament where ED / CBI cannot reach.