Government approves questioning of Puducherry Lt. Governor


Apr 19, 5:21 PM
The government has given its approval for the questioning of Puducherry Lt.

Governor M Iqbal Singh by the Enforcement Directorate over his alleged links to controversial businessman Hasan Ali.

Ali was arrested last month for tax evasion and money laundering. The Prime Minister's Office sanctioned the interrogation of Iqbal Singh this morning. Ali has been accused of stashing up to 8 billion dollars' worth of black money in foreign bank accounts. He is also being investigated for links to international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

AIR correspondent reports, in 1997, Mr. Singh was a Rajya Sabha MP from the Congress Party when he allegedly helped expedite a passport application for Ali.

In a letter of explanation sent to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram last week, Mr Singh said that he asked for the passport to be granted on humanitarian grounds because he had been told that Mr. Ali needed to travel abroad urgently to visit his brother, who was sick.

Mr Singh wrote that he did not know Mr. Hasan personally, but intervened at the request of Amalendu Pandey, a Congress leader from Bihar. He also met the Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram on Monday and explained his position.

The Congress Party, however, said that it is up to Mr. Singh to resign or not.

source:All India Radio