ED searches six cities in Hasan Ali Khan black money case

Making a fresh move to speed up the alleged money laundering and black money case against Hasan Ali Khan, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches in half-a-dozen cities on the premises of the Pune-based stud farm owner and others associated in the case.

The agency, which has booked Khan and a few of his alleged associates under criminal charges of money laundering in 2011, swooped down on multiple city locations including those in Mumbai, Pune, Gurgaon and Kolkata. "Searches are on at nine places in six cities in Hasan Ali case," an ED official said, adding that 30 officials are ivolved in the operation.

Sources said the action has come about now as the agency wants to revive the case and bring to book additional evidences, so that a trial against him in a Mumbai court could be initiated and the case is brought to its logical conclusion and a verdict is obtained.

They said ED Director Karnal Singh had recently held a high-level meeting in this regard, after which the Mumbai zonal office of the agency was asked to lead the operation.

It is also understood that the agency has got "fresh leads" in the case, including by way of help from foreign jurisdictions.