A special court, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), remanded Pune-based businessman Hasan Ali Khan in judicial custody till April 8 here on Friday after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the court it did not need his custody at present.
Outside the court, Hasan Ali alleged, while addressing journalists, that his life was in danger as he had received threats from his aide Kashinath Tapuriah and industrialist R.P. Goenka. “Tapuriah has framed me in this case,” he said.
His lawyer I.P. Bagaria submitted in the court that his client's life was in danger. “There is a direct threat to his life. The department is also aware of it,” he said.
Hasan Ali filed an application in the court requesting security. The court directed the Superintendent of Arthur Road Jail to make necessary arrangements for his protection.
Ujjwal Nikam, appearing for the ED, said the agency wanted to reserve the right to have further custody of the accused in case new facts emerged. But the special judge S.S. Joshi said there was no need to mention the matter at this stage.
Hasan Ali's ED custody ended on Thursday night, after which a night magistrate granted him safe custody till 11 a.m. on Friday. Tapuriah was remanded on Thursday to ED custody till March 30.
Official sources told TheHindu that Tapuriah's wife Chandrika was questioned by the ED on Friday.
