Post SIT: Govt may push for quick trial against Hasan Ali Khan

Investigating agencies probing alleged black money cases involving Pune-based stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan are mulling approaching a Mumbai court to expedite the start of a trial against him in a money laundering case pending since 2011.
Sources privy to the plans by the agencies said today the case of alleged tax evasion and laundering of funds against the 60-year-old businessman may be put on fast track.
Agencies including Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate and the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police have already filed their complaints of alleged tax evasion against Khan.
The move came against the backdrop of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing black money getting down to business and holding its first high-level meeting in the national capital yesterday.

The name of Khan was mentioned in the Terms of Reference issued by the Government for the specially constituted SIT headed by former Supreme Court Judge M B Shah.
"All issues relating to the matters concerning and arising from unaccounted monies of Hasan Ali Khan and (his aide Kashinath) Tapurias," it said.

The sources said the designated court in Mumbai will be apprised about the developments in the probe and requested to commnece the trial against Khan and his alleged business associate Kashinath Tapuriah after a money laundering charge sheet was filed against them in May 2011. The trial has not begun yet.

Some more probe documents and replies from foreign jurisdictions including Switzerland will be placed before the court by the Department of Revenue, the sources said.
The businessman, who is under arrest, came under scrutiny from multiple agencies in 2007 which had been probing him and his associates for various charges of money laundering, income tax evasion and violations of the Passport Act for the last seven years.