Hasan Ali Khan seeks liberty from Bombay high court

Even before the sessions court could decide the bail plea of Hasan Ali Khan, arrested in a multi-crore money laundering scam, the Pune-based stud farm owner has approached the Bombay high court seeking liberty.

Khan's bail plea before a special sessions court has been listed for April 26, while the one in the high court is likely to come up for hearing on April 20.

"When the Enforcement Directorate can challenge the order of the special court releasing Khan on bail on March 11 before the Supreme Court, the same principle needs to be applied here. The agency cannot now object to Khan filing a bail plea before the high court," the application states.

It further says that Khan is ready to give an undertaking that he would withdraw his plea filed before the special court if the high court admits his bail application.

"Another circumstance for approaching the high court is that the two advocates - Niteen Pradhan and Sonali Bendre -who would be representing the ED, are not notified as special public prosecutors by the central government. Thus there is likelihood of delay of hearing of the bail plea by the lower court," Khan's lawyer IA Bagaria said.

In his application, Khan has said no offence is made out against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of the material collected by the ED.

Special Judge ML Tahalayani had on March 11 granted bail to Khan, but it was cancelled by the Supreme Court on March 21, forcing him to surrender. He is at present in judicial custody.