HC judge recuses from hearing on Hasan Ali`s bail plea

A judge of Bombay High Court recused from hearing on bail plea of Pune-based businessman Hasan Ali Khan, facing charges of money laundering and stashing huge amount of black money in foreign banks.

Mumbai: A judge of the Bombay High Court on Monday recused from hearing on the bail plea of Pune-based businessman Hasan Ali Khan, facing charges of money laundering and stashing huge amount of black money in foreign banks. Justice Abhay Thipsay said he had granted bail to Ali on earlier application, which was set aside by the Supreme court.

"The previous application for bail filed by the applicant was heard by me... On August 12, 2011, I granted Hasan Ali bail. The order was challenged in the apex court which quashed it," Justice Thipsay said. "There is a likelihood of certain similar grounds cropping again during the hearing of the fresh bail plea. I think the matter should be dealt with by some other bench," the judge said, although senior advocate Amit Desai, appearing for Ali, said that present plea was on different grounds. After the Supreme Court quashed the 2011 high court order granting bail, Ali filed another bail plea on fresh grounds; but Justice R C Chavan, in March, rejected it, so he moved the apex court. The Supreme Court, in June, directed the high court to hear his application afresh. Justice Thipsay directed the registry to place the matter before another bench. Apart from money laundering, Ali is also accused of obtaining five passports in different names using bogus documents. He is suspected to have laundered money belonging to international arms trader Adnan Khashoggi. PTI