BJP seeks ‘definitive statement’ from govt on Ali

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The BJP has sought a "definitive statement" from the government on the release of Pune-based stud farm owner Hasan Ali by a Mumbai special court on Friday.

"We seek a definitive statement from the government on Hasan Ali’s release and there is more to the issue than meets the eye," leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said on Saturday.

"Although the matter is still in the court, what has happened is certainly not free from doubt. We expect a definitive statement to come from the government," Mr Jaitley told reporters on the sidelines of Mondal presidents' conference here.

In reply to a query, he said that there was no difference of opinion among the party's leadership on the question of removal of P.J. Thomas from the post of CVC.

"The leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj flagged the issue in the appropriate forum. The entire party stood by her. The SC judgment vindicated her as well as our party's stand on the issue. Our entire party is united on the issue," he said.

Mr Jaitley said that BJP was in talks with 'several smaller parties' in West Bengal on forming an alliance ahead of the polls. "If we strike a common ground, then we can work together," he said.

Referring to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Mr Jaitley said, "Her support to Maoists is not in the nation's interest and she cannot distance herself from the sins of the Centre," he said.

Khan, alleged to have stashed over $8 billion in UBS bank in Switzerland and made other illegal transactions abroad, was arrested on Monday midnight under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Khan is facing charges of massive money laundering and tax evasion.

A local court on Friday rejected its plea seeking Khan's remand for custodial interrogation and granted him bail after observing contents of some of its "confidential" documents.

The ED was left red faced as the Judge said, "Despite its arguments, the ED has not been able to demonstrate that a scheduled offence has been committed in the first place."