Refusing to grant bail to Pune-based stud farm owner Mr Hasan Ali Khan, accused of stashing away billions of dollars in overseas accounts, the Bombay High Court today asked him to approach the special court handling Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases.
Disposing of Mr Khan's bail application, Mr Justice R.C. Chavan told his lawyer that “why have you come here directly instead of moving the special court as directed by the Supreme Court?”
The apex court, while cancelling the bail granted to Mr Khan by the special court initially, had asked him to approach the same court afresh for bail.
But Mr Khan's counsel, advocate Mr I.P. Bagadia, today said his client had withdrawn the bail application in the special court because there were no prosecutors there. “In the absence of prosecutors, how can I argue?” he said. However, the Judge remarked “in the case of this nature, the prosecuting agency will not allow its case to go by default. Moreover, it is for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to decide the issue”.