New Delhi:
The Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, Iqbal Singh, is in the Capital today. He was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Puducherry on Tuesday for the second successive day over his recommendation for issuing a passport expeditiously to alleged tax evader Hasan Ali Khan.
Singh's visit to Delhi comes amidst reports that he may resign from his post. "I was asked about what happened in 1997, I told them. I have shown them the papers. Now let's wait..when there is clarity on this, then we will talk," Singh told reporters after he arrived in Delhi.
Singh was alone during the questioning, Singh's Private Secretary S Srinivasan had earlier said, adding he could not confirm whether it was videographed.
Iqbal Singh was in the eye of a storm for his action as a Congress Rajya Sabha member in 1997 in recommending expeditious issue of passport to Khan, a Pune based stud farm owner.
Singh admitted that he did make such recommendation on humanitarian grounds as he was told that Khan needed to travel abroad to visit his ailing brother. He however claimed he did not know Khan.
The Lt Governor's name surfaced during questioning of Bihar-based Congress leader Amlendu Pandey.
The ED action followed clearance from the Prime Minister's Office last week to record Singh's statement on the issue.
Singh is also embroiled in another controversy following the charge that a trust in which his two sons were former members had been given in-principle clearance by the administration to set up a medical college without following due procedures.
Opposition parties have called for a bandh today seeking recall of Singh.
District authorities clamped prohibitory orders in Puducherry and Mahe regions for two days from Tuesday following the dawn to dusk bandh call by CPM, AIADMK and BSP.(With PTI Inputs)