No necessity for Iqbal Singh to resign: Puducherry CM

Puducherry, April 25: Puducherry Chief Minister V Vaithilingam today said "there is no necessity" for Lt Governor Iqbal Singh to step down from his post for his alleged links with suspected money launderer Hasan Ali Khan.

Talking to reporters here after a meeting with the Governor, Vaithilingam said Enforcement Directorate has been given permission by the Prime Minister's Office to question Singh over the issue of his recommendation for issuing passport expeditiously to Khan.

"The ED would do necessary statutory follow up," he said, adding, in these circumstances why should Singh resign as he was only facing allegations.

He denied allegations that the administration had favoured a trust, reportedly linked to Singh for starting a medical college in the union territory.

"The administration had not allotted any land to the trust for starting medical college nor has it granted funds or esssentiality certificate to it, Vaithilingam said.

PTI