What the hell is going on in this country, asks Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (SC) questioned on Thursday the Centre’s inertia in sparing major black money hoarders, such as Pune stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan, custodial interrogation and asked it to respond by Tuesday.

“What the hell is going on in this country?” an anguished bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar said as it heard a PIL filed by noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani and others over black money stashed by Indian tax evaders in foreign banks.

Khan, who is alleged to have stashed away around $8 billion, has been served a notice demanding tax of Rs50,000 crore. SC also asked solicitor general (SG) Gopal Subramanium why three key enforcement directorate officials probing a case of alleged foreign exchange violation by Khan were transferred midway and ordered their immediate reinstatement. “It’s unfortunate,” the court said.

The judges sought to underline investigating agencies’ double standards in dealing with the haves and the have-nots. “There are instances when minor offenders are shot down for violating section 144 CrPC, but you [SG] don’t take action against these people [black money hoarders],” they said, adding, “We are very sorry. All these people [black money hoarders] are now free.”

The court had asked the government on February 10 to ensure that Khan does not leave the country.