Enforcement Directorate tells court that it has completed its questioning of the accused in an income-tax evasion and money-laundering case

Mumbai: Pune stud farm owner Hassan Ali Khan today alleged that he was receiving threats from Kolkata businessman Kashinath Tapuria, a co-accused in the money-laundering case. He said this to journalists as he was being taken away from court, after he was remanded in judicial custody till 8th April by the Sessions Court.

Mr Khan also alleged that he was being framed in the case by Mr Tapuria, his alleged associate in money-laundering activities, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) yesterday, reports PTI.

Clad in white kurta-pyjama, Mr Khan (53) was produced before principal sessions judge Swapna Joshi, who remanded him in judicial custody after ED counsel Ujjwal Nikam submitted that the directorate did not require his custody at the moment.

Mr Nikam contended that the ED reserved the right to press for Mr Khan's custody at a later date. This was opposed by Mr Khan's lawyer IP Bagadia. The judge said that this could be decided later, and that now the accused was being remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

Mr Khan was taken into custody by the ED on 17th March, after the Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to him by a trial court. On 21st March, the apex court ordered he remain in the custody of the ED for an additional three days.

Mr Khan faces an income-tax demand notice for up to Rs70,000 crore. The ED is said to have questioned him about his trips to various countries and his business dealings in India.

The ED had informed the apex court that it was in the possession of incriminating evidence against Mr Khan that revealed he has stashed huge amount of black money in various banks abroad. It also alleged that Mr Khan had withdrawn about $60,000 from a Swiss bank and cited communications from Swiss official sources to back its allegation.

Mr Tapuria was arrested in Mumbai yesterday after presenting himself for questioning over three days. He has denied any links with Mr Khan. He was also produced before the Sessions Court, which remanded him in ED custody till 30th March.