Businessman Sathish Sana evasive in statements, ED tells HC

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed in the Delhi High Court that businessman Sathish Babu Sana, facing prosecution in a money laundering case allegedly involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was evasive in his statements.

The probe agency said Sana was unable to justify a payment of Rs l.5 crore made to main accused, Qureshi, as a bona fide business expense and thus custodial interrogation was required.

The ED filed its affidavit in response to a petition by Sana seeking quashing of the money laundering case.

Sana, a Hyderabad-based businessman, was arrested by the ED and later granted bail by a trial court in a case relating to purported purchase of shares worth Rs 50 lakh of a company linked to Qureshi.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and C Hari Shankar listed the matter for further hearing on January 28 next year.

As an interim relief, the court had on October 14 stayed the summons issued to him.

The ED, in its affidavit filed through central government standing counsel Amit Mahajan, said: "The present investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, is ongoing and is distinct from that conducted from the CBI. Further the statements of the accused (Sana) recorded were found to be evasive.

"The petitioner was unable to justify a payment of Rs 1.5 crore made to the main accused as a bona fide business expense and thus custodial interrogation was required. The Petitioner was arrested in accordance to the mandate of Section 19 and by no stretch of imagination have the actions been violative of the mandate of the Constitution."