Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday questioned the source of wealth of Pune-based businessman Hasan Ali Khan, arrested in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
"From where did he (Hasan) get so much money? Is it his or someone else's? No person can amass so much money through any decent activity. He must have committed some other offence (apart from what he has been arrested for)," Justice AM Thipsay said while hearing his bail plea.
Earlier, Additional Solicitor General Darius Khambatta, appearing for the ED, had submitted information about the transactions allegedly made by Hasan and his aide Kashinath Tapuriah (also arrested in this case) with international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.
"ED has more than prima facie evidence against Hasan now. He has financed Khashoggi on several occasions. Although he has admitted to ED that he has several accounts in foreign banks, he has not yet revealed from where he got such a huge amount," he said.
To the court's question what prevents the ED from getting records of accounts from the foreign banks, Khambatta said, "Letters Rogatory have been issued to several countries seeking information and replies are awaited."
Justice Thipsay also asked if the agency had any other evidence, other than Hasan's statements, to prove the transactions through foreign accounts.
"What an accused says may not be the best evidence. There has to be documents to substantiate the allegations," the court remarked.
Khambatta said the agency had already collected several notarised documents to prove the transactions.
The court will continue the hearing on Monday.
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