An ED team will be going to Puducherry soon to question Iqbal Singh. The grilling session will be video-recorded as per the directions of the Supreme Court. Sources said the Prime Minister’s Office has not objected to questioning of Iqbal Singh at Raj Bhavan because it felt that he should not be treated as a suspect. While giving clearance to the ED’s request, the PMO indicated that the Governors enjoy immunity only in matters relating to discharge of their constitutional duties and in this case there was no need for permission from the PMO.
It is learnt that the ED wants to question the Lt. Governor in the presence of Bihar Congress leader Amalendu Pande, who spilled the beans of Iqbal Singh’s alleged links with Hasan Ali and Kasinath Tapuraiah. Pande had told the ED during his grilling that Iqbal Singh not only helped Hasan Ali in getting a passport but had also extended the same favour to Kasinath Tapuraiah in 1997.
Meanwhile, the Congress leadership, which appointed Singh as Lt Governor to Puducherry in July 2009, maintained a stoic silence on the controversy. Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said the matter is between the Lt. Governor, who is a constitutional functionary, and the Government of India. “All such matters obviously are based upon certain facts hence it is not appropriate for the party to comment upon this issue,” Tiwari said.