The Bombay High Court on Friday questioned the logic behind the filing of yet another bail application by Pune-based businessman Hasan Ali, who is accused of massive money laundering.
“I would not like to take up the matter again as it will be based on the same set of arguments on which previous bail applications were based and which were rejected by the Supreme Court,” said Justice A.M. Thipsay.
However, Ali’s counsel Satish Maneshinde said considerable time had passed between the last rejection of the bail application by the apex court and several new facts had emerged now. “We would like to place our application on the basis of those newly emerged facts.”
The government will file its reply on January 4 and a decision on whether to admit the bail application will be taken on January 8.
Ali applied for bail in the Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in July last year. The special judge rejected the application and Ali moved the High Court challenging the order.
In August 2011, the High Court granted him bail. But the Enforcement Directorate filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Bombay High Court order. Subsequently, the Supreme Court, by its September 30, 2011 order, cancelled the bail granted by the High Court. In January 2012, the apex court rejected his plea to review its decision.
