The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday issued a “look out circular” at all airports against Pune-based stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan, accused of stashing away black money abroad, to ensure that he does not flee the country.
According to sources, Khan is likely to appear before the ED officials (Mumbai branch) on March 7. The agency recently sent a notice to Khan, who is under investigation for money laundering and for allegedly transferring cash and valuable assets outside the country by unlawful means with the help of foreign nationals. Khan had earlier appeared before I-T authorities in Mumbai on February 18. The Supreme Court on Thursday had slammed the government over the progress made into the investigations on Khan, the main accused in a multi-billion-dollar money laundering and tax evasion case.
Sources further said that the ED wants to obtain all information from various state and Central law enforcement agencies about the finances of Khan in its probe to track his money trail.
This is the reason that circular at airports and all entry points has been issued so that Khan is not able to escape the country pending investigation by various agencies, sources added. If required, the ED may request for the issuance of “blue-corner” notice against Khan from the competent authority to gather information about his alleged overseas investments from the member countries of the Interpol, sources added.
“Khan and his associates will also be summoned for a fresh round of questioning by a joint team of law enforcement agencies — income-tax department and economic offences wing of the Maharashtra government after ED’s questioning on March 7,” sources said. Khan, who is alleged to have stashed away over $8 billion in Swiss banks, is likely to appear before the ED on March 7.
Khan had appeared before I-T authorities here on February 18 apparently in connection with notices issued to him on December 31, 2008, over huge tax evasions following undisclosed funds in several foreign bank accounts, including $8 billion in an account in the Zurich branch of UBS. However, UBS had denied any business relationship with Khan.