ED may grill Puducherry Lt guv soon

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is expected to give its formal nod to the Enforcement Directorate to question Puducherry Lt-Governor Iqbal Singh in a day or two.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is expected to give its formal nod to the Enforcement Directorate to question Puducherry Lt-Governor Iqbal Singh in a day or two.

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The interrogation is in connection with Singh’s recommendation for issuing passport to Hasan Ali Khan.

Earlier on Monday, Singh told home minister P Chidambaram he was ready to respond to any questions that investigators may have since he was clear about the issue.

“The Lt-Governor is willing to make a statement to the Enforcement Directorate. Home secretary is working out modalities, which will be ready by Monday,” Chidambaram said after Singh called on him, the second time in four days.

Sources said a team from the Enforcement Directorate could travel to Puducherry to record the statement.

Singh has already acknowledged that he did recommend expeditious issue of passport to Pune stud farm owner Khan at the request of a Bihar Congress leader though he did not know him.

Hasan Ali Khan is an accused in tax evasion and money laundering cases.

The Congress has refused to take a stand on Singh’s removal. Spokesman Manish Tewari said the party left a decision to “his conscience”.

“The matter is between him and the government,” Tewari said.