PMO nod to question Hasan-linked Puducherry governor
April 19th, 2011 - 8:00 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has okayed the questioning by the Enforcement Directorate of Puducherry Lt. Governor Iqbal Singh for his alleged links to Hasan Ali Khan, a suspected money launderer and tax evader, official sources said.
The sources told IANS that the PMO has cleared a request from the Enforcement Directorate.
An official said that the PMO, in replying to the ED’s request, has noted that the permission to quiz the lieutenant governor was not needed to be sought because “governors enjoy immunity only when there is a complaint against them in matters related to discharge of their constitutional duties”.
“In this case, there was no need for a permission from the PMO,” said an official, adding the questioning would be videographed.
Iqbal Singh would be questioned by ED for his alleged links with Khan, a Pune stud farm owner who is said to be the country’s biggest money launderer and tax evader.
He is alleged to have recommended expeditious issuance of Khan’s passport in 1997 when Iqbal Singh was a Rajya Sabha MP. According to the rules, MPs and senior government officals can verify people they know personally for passport issuance.
Iqbal Singh has admitted that he had recommended that the passport of Khan be expedited on “humanitarian grounds” but didn’t know him personally.
He has written a letter to Home Minister P. Chidambaram, admitting he had recommended this after a Bihar Congress leader, Amalendu Pandey, approached him saying Khan’s brother was ill abroad.
“I didn’t know Khan at all, neither did I ever meet him. I only issued the letter for expeditious issue of passport… on purely humanitarian and compassionate grounds,” he said in the two-paged letter.
Iqbal Singh, however, said that he did not enquire about Khan neither did he verify his credentials as in necessary for any officer or MP to do so before recommending a passport.
Chidambaram on Monday said the government was working out modalities for recording Iqbal Singh’s statement.
The ED sent summons to Iqbal Singh after his name cropped up during Pandey’s questioning.
Sources, meanwhile said that a team from the ED is likely to travel to Puducherry to record the statement.
- BJP demands resignation of Puducherry Lt. Governor - Apr 21, 2011
- Hasan Ali case: ED questions Puducherry Lieutenant Governor - Apr 20, 2011
- Puducherry lt. governor meets Chidambaram - Apr 28, 2011
- PMO sanctions ED to quiz Puducherry Lieutenant Governor - Apr 19, 2011
- Recommended Hasan for passport but don't know him: Puducherry governor - Apr 17, 2011
- MHA permits ED to quiz Puducherry Lt Governor - Apr 18, 2011
- Iqbal Singh issue matter between him, government: Congress - Apr 18, 2011
- Hasan Ali money laudering case: Puducherry Lt. Gov.meets Chidambaram - Apr 27, 2011
- Puducherry Ll.governor denies he got summons from ED - Apr 16, 2011
- Hasan Ali case: Enforcement Directorate to question Tapuriah, Pandey - Apr 18, 2011
- Hasan Ali chargesheeted by ED - May 06, 2011
- Puducherry Lt. Governor now facing questions over medical college trust - Apr 20, 2011
- Hasan Ali sent to ED custody for three days - Apr 30, 2011
- Hasan Ali granted bail, collapses in courtroom - Aug 12, 2011
- Hasan Ali's bail plea hearing adjourned till June 17 - Jun 07, 2011
Tags: according to the rules, ali khan, bihar, congress leader, constitutional duties, enforcement directorate, government officals, home minister, humanitarian and compassionate grounds, humanitarian grounds, immunity, iqbal singh, lieutenant governor, lt governor, money launderer, p chidambaram, passport issuance, rajya sabha, stud farm, tax evader