Those close to investigations say stud farm owner lacks ability to be in multi-billionaire league, see hand of a former CM in money stash scam
Those close to investigations say stud farm owner lacks ability to be in multi-billionaire league, see hand of a former CM in money stash scam
Au00a0major chunk of the $8 billion (about Rs 35,952 crore) Hasan Ali Khan, a multi-millionaire and city-based stud farm owner, is believed to have stashed away in a UBS (Zurich) bank account may not belong to him. Saying they have serious doubts about Khan's ability to play in the multi-billion league, sources from investigative agencies increasingly suspect a woman politician who was also the chief minister of a southern state in the country to be the real story behind the hidden Khan money.
Khan became known to the general public only after officials from the Income-Tax department first raided his residence at Tulips building in Valentina Society of Koregaon Park on January 5 in 2007.
In the raid, several valuable items belonging to Khan, his wife Reema and his in-laws were recovered by the officials. These items included several high-end cars and gold and silver ornaments.
The worth of the valuables recovered was then certified by Shailesh Shivarkar, a government-approved valuer (copies of the documents are with MiD DAY).
Investigators who know Khan's reach as an individual are skeptical about his ability to enter into big deals, saying there are strong indications he is being protected by some "influential political leaders".
"During investigations and the interrogation of Hasan Ali, an obvious question we faced was how could a scrap dealer amass such a huge amount of wealth in a short span of time. Certain information and leads then started pointing to a woman politician who was also the CM of a state from South India," said an officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
How it all startedAn officer who was part of the initial investigations in the case recalled some interesting incidents before and after the much-talked-about raid.
"Much before the raid actually happened, Hasan Ali Khan had been admitted to Jehangir hospital. He was constantly talking to some people over the phone. A doctor from the hospital overheard his conversation and got the shock of his life; Hasan Ali was telling the person on other end that some $3,000 billion were in his bank and it had created problems for him as some things had started going wrong," said the officer, also requesting anonymity. "The doctor immediately called up his sources in police department."
The officer said that was the first time Khan's name came on the police radar.
Khan feared for lifeAfter the police got to know about Khan's black money, the Income-Tax department officials swung into action. They conducted raids and recovered items from his residence.
The year after the raid, in December 2008, Khan was arrested in a fake passport case in Mumbai. Before his arrest, Khan, who was then a proclaimed absconder, is believed to have feared for his life.
An officer who "facilitated" Khan's surrender and subsequent arrest, said the stud farm owner was not ready to come out of hiding until he was assured of his safety and adequate security for him. The officer, who requested anonymity, said Khan had insisted that he be taken into custody inside the airport.
"He thought that some person involved in the racket had arranged for gangsters, who would pump bullets into him if he got out of the airport without police cover," the officer said.
A simple past
During the raid, I-T officials recovered Khan's Mercedes and other high-end cars. But residents of Koregaon Park remember Khan as a man with a simple lifestyle.
"Around 2002-03, Hasan Ali Khan would be seen strolling in the park. He had one Maruti Esteem car but nobody knew that he was 'the Hasan Ali Khan'. In 2007, after the raid happened, suddenly many TV crewmembers parked their vans outside the Tulips building. Later we got to know that such an influential man was staying in our midst," said a Koregaon Park resident, who requested anonymity. "Even today, the in-laws of Khan live in the same area. The two children from the family play with other kids on the premises of the society. It's a normal life for them as well as others from the family."
A visit to Khan's residence revealed the family was in Mumbai. "Saheb's mother was very ill and was shifted to a hospital in Mumbai. His wife and children have also moved out," said Baban Ramchandra Yadav, a security guard at the society. There's no one at home and I don't know when they will be back."
