May 21: The Central Crime Station and Enforcement Directorate probe into the antique jewellery theft case involving Hasan Ali is leading nowhere as the accused named in the case are all pleading ignorance. Cops have now decided to take legal opinion on filing a plea in the Delhi court to seek Hasan Ali’s custody.

The CCS cops have been receiving a number of complaints from realtors and jewellers who allege the “involvement” of their business rivals in the antique sale case. Some believe that the complaints are being lodged only to settle scores. An investigating official of CCS said, “We are verifying the complaints one by one. Most of them have turned out to be fake complaints.” Meanwhile, the CCS officials have been grilling the suspects in the case — jeweller Ram Barose Gupta, royal family member Nasir Baig and Hasan Ali’s associate Hamid Reza — for the past few days.

“In the presence of ED officials, we have grilled them several times. They, however, claim that Hasan Ali is a cheat and that they have been duped by him. So far, no evidence has come out against them. No one is claiming that any jewellery was stolen,” said an investigating official. The cops said that they don’t have prima facie evidence against Hasan Ali in the case except his confession before ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. “We are taking legal opinion to find out if we can take Hasan Ali and Kashinath Tapuria into custody and question them,” said an official.

“No one is coming forward to lodge a complaint. Some victims have passed away. Others could be fearing for their lives,” said a police official.