Mumbai: A special court on Saturday directed Mumbai
Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik to appoint a competent
officer to probe whether a case under Maharashtra Control of
Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was made out against Pune-based
stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan.
The order was passed by designated MCOCA judge S M Modak
who asked the city police chief to appoint an officer to
conduct the probe and file a report within a month.
The judge said that police commissioner can seek an
extension if required.
The court was hearing an application filed by I G
Khandelwal, an activist, who contended that MCOCA charges
should be slapped on Khan.
Currently, Khan is facing money laundering charges in a
special court under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. His
bail plea was rejected by the trial court but the Bombay High
Court granted him liberty. The Enforcement Directorate moved
the Supreme Court which cancelled his bail.
Opposing Khandelwal's application for invoking MCOCA
charges against Khan, the state government argued that the
complaint was not bonafide and contended that without placing
relevant information nobody can file a plea in the court
seeking to invoke MCOCA charges against any person.
The government said that a nodal agency had been
appointed and the complainant can approach it for redressal of
his grievances.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, October 01, 2011, 18:18