Bharat Rakshak

MUMBAI: Dawood aide Sajid Usman Batliwala, who was arrested last month from Mira Road after a 14-year hunt, has been found to possess a fake passport issued by the Pune passport office. Batliwala (47) was wanted in four murder cases, including the killing of senior BJP leader Ramdas Nayak in 1994.

The passport was issued to him in the name of Sayyed Mohammed Suleman Gani on August 3, 2009 and was valid till August 2, 2019. The address was Landmark Apartments, Flat No 5, B J Road, Hotel Woodland Marg, Pune.

"When our team visited Pune, they were shocked to find somebody else staying at the stated address. So, if the address is not of Gani, the passport is obviously fake," a police officer said, adding that the anti-robbery squad led by inspector Praful Bhosle has sought documents connected with Gani's passport at the Pune passport office. "We are looking into if a tout or any official from the passport office helped Batliwala obtain the passport."

A source said Batliwala would have used the passport to flee to Dubai, where he was for about a decade before fleeing to Karachi.

Among other fake documents recovered from Batliwala are identity cards of human rights activists and a PAN card issued in the name of Mohammed Ahmed Usman Gani.

When the police had gone to arrest Batliwala, he tried his best to convince them that he was Mohammed Ahmed Memon. His defences crumbled when the team grilled him thoroughly about his identity. Before long, he admitted that he was indeed Batliwala.

He pretended to run regional newspapers while indulging in extortion activities. Batliwala was so active that in 2005, he laid a trap and got an official of the tehsildar arrested by the anti-corruption bureau.

"Batliwala, a key member of the Chhota Shakeel faction of the Dawood gang, along with slain gangster Feroz Kokani had shot dead BJP leader Nayak in 1994 and ever since, he was on the run," said Himanshu Roy, the joint commissioner of police (Crime). "When the police started looking for him in 1995, he fled to Bangladesh. From there, he flew to Dubai and later Karachi. He returned to India in 2000 and stayed under fictitious name. During the course of interrogation, Batliwala revealed lot of details of Dawood Ibrahim and his aides living a luxurious life in Karachi under special protection.'

Issue was brought up in meeting of Joint Parliamentary Committee probing financial irregularities during league; measures to prevent match fixing were also discussed

THE possibility of well-known socialites being involved in hawala transactions during the Indian Premier League (IPL) was thrown up during a meeting of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing the issue yesterday.


An Enforcement Directorate official said new rules are being formulated to trail the inflow and outflow of black money from the country during IPL matches

Senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials said measures to prevent the active involvement of match-fixing syndicates during next year's IPL were also discussed in the meeting.

A recent Income Tax investigation has indicated a New Delhi-based socialite had been in constant touch with bookies during the IPL matches. Some of the operators had inside information on team selection and venues of BCCI and IPL matches.

The JPC has been finding ways to nail Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violators during the last few IPL tournaments.

Several franchisees had allegedly flouted foreign exchange norms and routed money to tax havens across the globe. FEMA violations have also allegedly taken place in payments made to overseas players by some franchisees.

Among those who attended the meeting in New Delhi were a former finance minister, senior ED officials and home ministry and finance ministry officials.

An ED official said new rules are being formulated to trail the inflow and outflow of black money from the country during IPL matches.

Sources said some of the leads collected by the ED and the CBI have been kept on hold as further investigation could lead to the names of some bigwigs tumbling out.

"Initial investigation has indicated that some socialites had been calling cricketers during the matches.

After scrutinising the phone records, we suspect that they may be acting at the behest of bookmakers," said a senior ED official.

A large number of calls have also been made to and received from Pakistan and Dubai the hub of gangster Dawood Ibrahim's betting empire.

Indian bookies too

"We are also probing some bookies in India after bookmakers in London pointed to the involvement of Indian kingpins in match fixing as well as hawala transactions," added the official.

The agencies are treading cautiously as they suspect their investigations could lead to some top bookmakers and politicians having links with Pakistani match-fixing syndicates.

"We cannot rule out the possibility of them having links with Dawood too," the official said. Home Secretary G K Pillai refused to comment on the developments during the JPC meet.

Two, he too favoured a few companies and both these companies are real estate companies that are not telecom companies and they are not entitled but got it. They not only got it but within months they sold it foreign companies. These two foreign companies according to the Home Minister are ISI controlled. In fact one of the board members is said to be an associate of Dawood Ibrahim. That brings in the question of national security. The third thing is that Raja's party well wishers like Syed Salauddin, his (Raja's) wife, Karunanidhi's family all have been direct and indirect beneficiaries in this. Raja's own asset statements from 2004 when he contested Lok Sabha and 2009 shows an 171 per cent rise.

The sources said that the arrested youths revealed that after they got information that a consignment of counterfeit notes had reached Farakka (West Bengal) via Bangladesh, they reached there to collect it. They were arrested when they were returning Aligarh and Hathras after collecting the consignment.

The fresh development is alarming for the security and investigating agencies that have been keeping a sharp vigil on networks pumping in fake notes from Nepal.

In the recent years, the Anti-Terror Squad and civil police have succeeded in nabbing the modules active in collecting counterfeit currency from Nepal and circulating it in the local markets.

Recently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had also held a closed-door meeting with senior officials of police and other agencies.

The sources revealed that fake notes are being pumped in from Birganj, Nepalganj (both in Nepal) and Siddharthnagar gateways.

The groups operating from Nepal are mainly enjoying the patronage of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

After the arrest of Yunus Ansari, Dawood's commander in Nepal and son of ex-Nepalese minister, by Nepal police on January 2, the circulation of fake notes through Birganj (Nepal) border was checked for a few months.

Before the arrest of Ansari, one more commander of Dawood's gang, Majid Manihar, who looked after the activities at Nepalganj gateway, was eliminated in October 2009.

After Manihar, other commander Parvez Tanda who was ruling the Siddharthnagar gateway was also killed in December last year.

These developments surely had disrupted the circulation of fake currency notes for a few months. But after recovery of a new consignment by the ATS on October 11 by arresting Virendra Yadav and Ramakant Dhobi from Sohwal area in Ghazipur district, it became clear that the Nepal-based rackets have become active again.

Such practices could not be stopped at some other borders like Bhairva and Sonauli.

Now, the emergence of a new `centres' in Bangladesh has increased the challenges before the agencies.

The past few years have seen a dramatic decline in Dawood's fortunes from the heady heights of the life depicted in Portrait of a Don - the exposé by Ghulam Hasnain in 2001.[32]
Firstly came the death of Sharad Shetty, Dawood's financier and long term confidant, an assassination carried out by Dawood's long time rival Chotta Rajan. News media outlets reported the murder as a sign of a dramatic shift of power between the crime lords.[33] This was the seminal event in a series of blows to his criminal empire from which Ibrahim has never fully recovered. The loss of Shetty was followed by the declaration by the United States Treasury Department declaring Ibrahim a global terrorist because of his links with Osama bin Laden.[34][34] Ibrahim then lost one of his closest aides, Pakistani Underworld Don Shoaib Khan (not to be confused with the Pakistani cricketer also named Shoaib Khan) in 2005.[34] Shoaib allegedly died due to a 'heart attack' though he had no such previous condition.[35] However Dawood is still considered a strong figure and enjoys influence in the Indian underworld.[36]

ramana wrote:Also please post old news items for archival purposes about DI gang.

India’s best-known underworld figure and Mumbai blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim has been placed in the same category as top Al-Qaida operatives with Interpol issuing a ‘special notice’against him, which also discloses his various addresses, including one in a posh colony in Karachi. The special notice, which is circulated to UN member nations, has details of Dawood’s 11 passports and 16 aliases. Interpol now recognises Dawood as part of the worldwide terror syndicate of Osama bin Laden whose Al-Qaida is lead member of the 17-member World Jihad Council. Dawood’s operations have spanned Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The notice, which has also been forwarded to the National Central Bureau (Interpol, New Delhi), discloses the don’s two Karachi addresses and hints at his ‘possible’hideout at NU 37, 30th Street, Defence Housing Authority. The second one is mentioned as White House, near Saudi Mosque, Clifton Road. With the notice confirming Pakistan as the base of Dawood’s operations, it will make it more difficult for Islamabad,and the terrorist’s ISI mentors, to host him. Global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim has been aware that an Interpol notice against him was on its way and intelligence reports have indicated his growing restlessness as he hunts for safe houses in Pakistan. The details show that he had got his Pakistani passport (No.-G866537), the latest among all 11, on August 12, 1991, clearly indicating his liasion with Pakistani elements much before the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

It was the normal afternoon traffic rush on the Malir road. As a prison van slowed down before the Malir Bridge, several armed men who were lying in wait on both sides of the bridge, showered it with a hail of Kalashnikov bullets. The shooting was so intense that none of the 10 policemen who were escorting underworld gangster, Shoaib Khan aka Shoaib Rummy walla, back to prison got a chance to even fire back. The lightning attack left four policemen dead, while Karachi's top gambling den operator, Shoaib Khan, two pedestrians and four other policemen received multiple bullet wounds. Their mission accomplished, the attackers left unhurriedly in waiting cars watched by horrified motorists. A few hours later, the police found the abandoned vehicles in nearby villages. Senior police officials believe the attack was carried out by the Haji Ibrahim Bholoo group. Bholoo, Shoaib’s former business partner, has been missing since January this year and Shoaib is being held responsible for Ibrahim Bholoo's disappearance and possible murder. Karachi’s two rival underworld gangs, both working for the notorious Mumbai don, Dawood Ibrahim, are now settling their scores on the streets of Karachi. Dawood Ibrahim and his team, Mumbai's notorious underworld clan including his righthand man Chota Shakeel and Jamal Memon, are on India’s most wanted list for a series of bomb blasts in Mumbai and other criminal activites. After the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, the gang have made Karachi their new home and base of operations. Living under fake names and IDs, and provided protection by government agencies, they have built up their underworld empire in Karachi employing local talent like Shoaib and Bholoo. The two small-time gangsters struck gold when they got in touch with the notorious Dawood Ibrahim, five or six years ago and started working for him in Karachi. In the mid '90s Shoaib started a gambling den in Dubai. It was in Dubai that Shoaib made contact with Dawood through their mutual passion for gambling. Haji Ibrahim, alias Bholoo, was a People's Party worker and a good friend of Najeeb Ahmed, a top PSF activist, as well as other Peoples Party activists. In the early '90s he left for South Africa, where he amassed a small fortune in drugs, hawala and smuggling. Then he met Shoaib in Dubai and became his business partner. Dawood Ibrahim too had extensive drug operations in South Africa. So it was inevitable that Bholoo joined hands with Dawood Ibrahim, serving as his agent in South Africa. Hostilities between Bholoo and Shoaib surfaced last year, when Shoaib asked Bholoo to arrange hit men to eliminate Dawood Ibrahim’s arch enemy, Chota Rajan. Till the Mumbai blasts, Chota Rajan was Dawood’s right hand man. After the blasts, however, he defected and formed his own group, and ganged up with RAW to hit the business interests of his former Godfather. Insiders claim that Bholoo, who in the past had carried out a number of contract killings for Dawood Ibrahim, immediately arranged for three activists of the now defunct Al-Zulfikar organisation to eliminate Chota Rajan. The three who were wanted in several criminal cases in Pakistan, were assured of protection and a generous pay-off if they carried out the hit on Rajan. The team of assassins from Pakistan, backed by some former Pakistani undercover agents, left for Bangkok to trace and eliminate Dawood’s top foe. The Pakistani hit team succeeded in tracking down Chota Rajan who was then staying in the apartment of one of his trusted friends in a fashionable Bangkok district. The team attacked in a style similar to blockbuster Indian movies. Armed with automatic weapons and wearing ties and jackets the hit team reached the upmarket apartment building carrying a cake, giving the impression to the security at the gate that they had come to celebrate Rajan's birthday. The hit team burst into the apartment and against the underworld rule of never killing women and children, fired at the wife of Rajan's top hitman, Rohit Verma. When she tried to save her husband, both Rohit and his wife were killed. Rajan locked himself in the bathroom but was injured when the team sprayed the door with bullets. Rajan managed to slip out of the bathroom window, and hid himself in a nearby garbage dump till the police came to his rescue. He later slipped out from a Bangkok hospital after bribing the police officers who had been deputed to guard him and disappeared. When the team returned to Karachi, Shoaib antagonised Bholoo by refusing to honour his commitment to pay the three Al-Zulfikar assassins their fee. Bholoo, who could not refuse to pay his former party comrades, paid them from his own pocket. On January 8, Ibrahim Bholoo, visited the Defence residence of Shoaib Khan to settle another monetary dispute involving 700,000 dollars and was never seen again. Senior police officers suspect that Bholoo is already dead, though they have yet to find his remains. Since then, the Bholoo group have been gunning for Shoaib who, moving under heavy security, consistently managed to escape the Bholoo boys. Two controversial Karachi police officials, SHO Anwar Khan and Chaudhry Aslam, have also allegedly joined the Bholoo group, to help them get Shoaib. While in South Africa, Bholoo was a key informant for the Karachi police on the activities of MQM activists taking refuge in South Africa. He was constantly feeding information to SHO Anwar Khan and Chaudhry Aslam, who were in the forefront of the army crackdown against the MQM. "When Bholoo disappeared, we thought it was our moral and ethical responsibility to help out his family," said Anwar Khan. Bholoo's family had several meetings with Dawood Ibrahim to seek his help in convincing Shoaib to divulge Bholoo's whereabouts. Shoaib, who still had the support of Dawood Ibrahim, continued to escape arrest. Then on February 21, 2001, the situation changed. There was a shooting incident on the premises of the City Courts, where armed guards from the two rival groups exchanged fire. Shoaib, who had applied for a temporary bail before arrest warrant in Bholoo's kidnapping case from Sukkur, had come to the court to get his bail confirmed. He was escorted by ranger personnel and several armed men. Bholoo's men were waiting. Both the rangers as well as Shoaib's armed guards fired at Bholoo's supporters, who they feared might force Shoaib's arrest after lawyers told Shoaib that his bail may not be confirmed. The seven ranger personnel led by Major Abdul Majeed of Janbaz Force in Thatta and Major Tariq Hameed of Karachi, are now facing a court martial. They were reported to be regular visitors at mujra performances at Shoaib's den. On the day of the shooting at the City Court, the team of rangers apparently left their headquarters on some pretext to accompany Shoaib for his protection. The incident forced the government to finally intervene and undercover agents approached Dawood and asked him to stop backing Shoaib. It worked and on June 14, Shoaib surrendered himself to the authorities. "Dawood was told that Karachi was not Mumbai. We told him to stop supporting Shoaib because he had killed an innocent man,” said an inside source. So far Karachi was infamous for ethnic and sectarian killing. But the arrival of underworld mega-bucks has brought a new dimension to the city’s crime profile as warring gangs fight pitched battles on Karachi’s streets. With Dawood Ibrahim operating out of Karachi, with the apparent blessings of the government, the Shoaib incident might well be the first of a series of Mumbai-style mafia wars.

“To win the loyalty of a person is the most difficult task in the world,” Dawood Ibrahim, 46, would tell his brother gangsters. This former street urchin and son of a Mumbai police constable seems to have managed to earn it manifold. Hated by many, Dawood’s employees and associates adore him, and would go to any length for him, including murder. People who have worked for this Mumbai underworld don, known as the ‘Gold Man,’ maintain he never abandons his men. He is also unfailingly courteous and unstintingly generous. “If you are having dinner with him, he will make sure he starts after everyone else. If you ask him for money, he will never question how much you want. He hands out a substantial sum and if you ask how much of it you can keep, he says, ‘It’s all yours, take whatever you want.’” But Dawood does not brook fools either, or those who disobey him. And those who betray him usually do so at the cost of their lives. Ibrahim lives like a king. Home is a palatial house spread over 6,000 square yds, boasting a pool, tennis courts, snooker room and a private, hi-tech gym. He wears designer clothes, drives top of the line Mercedes’ and luxurious four-wheel drives, sports a half-a-million rupee Patek Phillipe wristwatch, and showers money on starlets and prostitutes. He bought Lahore model, Saba, with whom he reportedly had a passionate involvement, a house and a car. Nor does he shirk his obligations: Mandakini, of Ram Teri Ganga Maili fame, former Bollywood actress with whom he had a child is reportedly still being supported by him. His daily regimen is also rather kingly. He wakes in the afternoon. After a swim and shower, he has breakfast. In the late afternoon, he gives his employees an audience where he briefs them on their assignments and they give him daily reports of his myriad businesses. If in the mood, he engages in a game of cricket or snooker with friends. And as the sun sets, Dawood and his party set off for any one of his ‘safe houses’ in Karachi for an evening of revelry – usually comprising drinks (Black Label is his preference), mujras and gambling. The long-married Dawood’s passion for women has made him a favoured client for local pimps. His current liaison notwithstanding, he whets his allegedly large sexual appetite with a variety of women. “He prefers virgins, preferably young girls. And he is a good paymaster. If the market rate for a woman is 10,000 rupees, Dawood pays 100,000 rupees. He is thus always surrounded by Pakistan’s top call girls,” discloses one of his family friends. Carousing through the night, Dawood and his companions quit only at dawn and collectively offer fajr prayers. This has been Dawood Ibrahim’s routine for several years.From petty street urchin to don of the Mumbai underworld, Dawood’s life makes for a fascinating story. Dawood seems to have realised early in life that crime paid. His petty exploits sometimes landed him in trouble, but his father’s position as a policeman saved him from being apprehended on several occasions. Soon the Mumbai underworld started taking note of him.Initially operating independently, Dawood formed his own gang, which grew into a mega crime network over the years. Both Hindus and Muslims worked for him, pursuing his by now multiple business interests, which included drugs, mediating in business disputes, evicting tenants from old buildings and clearing land for purposes of construction. Ibrahim’s interests soon led him to Bollywood where he became a major film financier. At his lavish parties, there was never a shortage of the mega stars of the day. “They wouldn’t dare refuse an invitation,” says a friend, who maintains that those who opted out on account of shooting schedules would suddenly find their dates had been cancelled or postponed. Growing Hindu-Muslim tension, fuelled by other underworld dons, which climaxed after the Babri mosque demolition, changed everything. The ensuing blasts in Mumbai, and the communal riots triggered by the underworld itself, caused the Dawood Ibrahim gang to splinter. One of his top lieutenants, Chota Rajan, often described by Ibrahim as one of his ‘nauratans,’ (nine jewels) defected and formed his own group consisting mainly of Hindu boys. Thereafter, Ibrahim was accused of masterminding the blasts, even though he was out of town at the time. He could never return to India. Dubai, which might have been a natural alternative residence, was ruled out because of an Interpol alert for Dawood’s arrest – the UAE and India have an extradition treaty. Thus Dawood fled to Pakistan, managing also to subsequently smuggle his family, comprising his wife, four daughters and a son, and certain close associates and their families out of Mumbai. (One daughter, 12, subsequently died of malaria and is buried in Pakistan). Today they are all Pakistani passport holders. For the Muslims of Mumbai, Dawood’s role in the blasts makes him a hero. “You cannot imagine the behaviour of the Hindus towards us before the blasts. They would hurl insults at our veiled women, ridicule us and mock our beards. The blasts changed everything. Now they cannot underestimate our strength; they are afraid of us,” said a shopkeeper from Dawood Ibrahim’s old mohalla on Mohammad Ali Road, a largely Muslim neighbourhood, whose residents shun the press and fiercely guard their privacy. In Pakistan meanwhile, Dawood managed to establish another huge empire, comprising both legitimate and illegitimate businesses. In fact, the last few years have witnessed Dawood emerge as the don of Karachi. Dawood and his men have made heavy investments in prime properties in Karachi and Islamabad, and are major players in the Karachi bourse and in the parallel credit system business – hundi. Dawood is also said to have rescued Pakistan’s Central Bank which was in crisis at one point, by providing a huge dollar loan. His businesses include gold and drug smuggling. The gang is also allegedly heavily involved in match-fixing. Dawood’s influence among the Pakistani cricket players is so well known that a senior Pakistan cricket official met Dawood to get the names of those Pakistani cricketers involved in betting. Some of the Pakistani cricket players admit that at one time or another, they have sought Dawood’s help, financial or otherwise. Javed Miandad is allegedly very close to Dawood Ibrahim, and his recent stint in cricket, despite the opposition from other players, was reportedly at Dawood’s behest. Dawood’s sphere of influence has also encompassed the business community, with businessmen increasingly approaching Dawood to settle their financial disputes with other businessmen or for financial bailouts. Some former MQM militants are apparently also working for Dawood as trouble-shooters. However, Dawood’s growing influence has irked Karachi’s powerful ethnic group, the mohajirs, who feel Dawood is trespassing on their domain as more and more people are now looking to Dawood to sort out their problems. “Earlier, whether it was a case of financial dispute or the construction or regularisation of an illegal building, people came to us for help. Now all of them are going to Dawood,” remarked a former leader of Altaf Hussain’s MQM. Dawood’s business activities are not confined to the subcontinent. His network extends to several countries of the African continent, and to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Dubai, Germany, France and UK. His net worth has been estimated at close to 30 billion rupees. Meanwhile, not only have the Pakistani authorities turned a blind eye to the gang’s activities within Pakistan, but many in the corridors of power have partaken of Dawood’s hospitality. Dawood often throws lavish mujras for Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats. A recent guest was a former caretaker Prime Minister. These are not the only members of the establishment who have close ties with Dawood. He is said to have the protection of assorted intelligence agencies. In fact, Dawood and his men move around the city guarded by heavy escorts of armed men in civvies believed to be personnel of a top Pakistani security agency. A number of government undercover agents, who came into contact with Dawood because of their official duties, are now, in fact, working for him. “A major serves him a glass of water. Nearly all the men who surround him for security reasons are either retired or serving officers,”claims an MQM activist. “And he keeps them happy – buying them expensive apartments and showering them with favours. So they are more loyal to Dawood than the government of Pakistan.” Why is he allowed to operate with such impunity? According to informed sources, Dawood is Pakistan’s number one espionage operative. His men in Mumbai help him get whatever information he needs for Pakistan. Rumour has it that sometimes his men in Karachi accompany Pakistani intelligence agents to the airports to scan arriving passengers and identify RAW agents. Both Dawood and his lieutenant Chota Shakeel, who have international satellite telephones and mobile roaming facilities, are in constant touch with their people in India and are allegedly able to garner valuable information for local agencies. But Dawood has not severed all ties with India – or even with Hindu nationalists. Dawood and his men might claim to be the champions of the Indian Muslims, but he continues to have close business ties with the Hindu mafia. One of his close associates claims that Dawood even has joint business interests with the son of the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena leader, Bal Thackeray, public pronouncements of fierce enmity between the two notwithstanding.There is evidence to indicate that Dawood is also still financing Bollywood films. Early this year, the Mumbai police arrested Bharat Shah, the producer of the Indian film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, after proving that the film was financed by Dawood Ibrahim. And there is nostalgia for the home left behind. Dawood is said to often cry for Mumbai. “Mumbai was Mumbai. There we had everything, here one cannot have the life or the fun we did in India,” said one of Dawood’s associates.

Said an officer, “Businessmen and builders are going to Karachi to meet Dawood regularly. The modus operandi is simple. One has to book a flight from Mumbai to Dubai via Karachi.When the plane lands at Karachi for a two-and-a-half-hour halt, an ISI agent whisks you out of the airport and takes you to a place where you can talk to Dawood for about an hour before being brought back to the aircraft. You then fly to Dubai and return to Mumbai, without any proof (on passport) of having alighted at Karachi.’’

Dawood, who was recently designated as the international drug lord by the US under its Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Act, is said to be the mastermind behind the heroin that is smuggled to Europe using India as a transit route. Some of the contraband, that flows out of Afghanistan via Pakistan, finds its way to the Indian market for local consumption. Iqbal Mirchi, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim, is the front who runs the underworld don’s drug empire, said K C Verma, director-general of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) here on Tuesday. Mirchi, who is already listed under the Kingpin Act, is considered to be one of the top 50 drug lords across the world. The Kingpin Act is targeted at limiting the financial transactions of drug lords and their organisations the world over. Sources said Dawood’s reported nexus with Osama bin Laden was one of the reasons that forced the US to designate the don under the Kingpin Act. Dawood had reportedly met bin Laden post 9/11 and had offered him his drug network to be used to help al-Qaida terrorists to escape Afghanistan. About 80% of the heroin smuggled into Europe is sourced from Afghanistan using India and the CIS countries as the transit route. A majority of the trade is controlled by Dawood’s network using Africans as conduits, sources added. Iqbal Mirchi, who now reportedly lives in Hornchurch in UK, fled India for Dubai when cases were booked against him in Mumbai under the NDPS Act in 1993-94 for running a drug syndicate in the country. Later, when India sought his deportation from the UAE authorities, the 55-year-old Mirchi shifted his base to UK.

A new biography of Dawood Ibrahim, the gangland figure from Mumbai who is wanted in India on various charges, says he is leading a prisoner-like life in Karachi. The Pakistani authorities have repeatedly denied such allegations. ‘The Most Dangerous Man in the World,’ which is what author Gilbert King has chosen to name his “unauthorised” biography, said in an interview published in India Abroad, the New York-based journal, that Mr Ibrahim is not allowed to move freely. After his expulsion from UAE, no country other than Pakistan was willing to accord him asylum. “But his power and capability in the underworld remain undiminished; he can still do what he wants,” the author claimed.

Jabrail Khan, who reportedly worked as a cook at the Karachi bungalow of Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, Anees Ibrahim Kaskar, has provided valuable information on the whereabouts of the dons and their kin living in other countries. Khan left for Dubai on a Pakistan Airlines flight, but alighted at Karachi, where Anees’ accomplices received him and took him to his Clifton Road bungalow. The same day, Khan met Anees. In due course, Khan also met Dawood. Khan reportedly told his interrogators that Dawood lived in the Clifton Road defence area. His brother Humayun, who was once a drug addict, lived in a bungalow nearby with his family. Two more brothers, Noora and Musatkim, were based in Saudi Arabia and kept visiting Karachi at regular intervals. His fifth brother, Iqbal, is lodged in a Mumbai jail. Khan allegedly disclosed that all those working at Anees’ residence were either `Pathans’ or were from Kashmir.

Dawood Ibrahim Kaksar believed in the kind of paradise built with bricks and hard cash. His last known home in Karachi sprawled across 6,000-square metres, complete with a private swimming pool, gym and tennis courts. In the evenings, he would travel in a car picked from his fleet of Mercedes, clad in designer suits, a $1,000 Patek Philippe watch on his wrist, for all-night orgies. “Dawood and his companions,” the Pakistani investigative journalist Ghulam Husnain recorded in a 2001 exposé, “quit only at dawn and collectively offer Fajr [dawn] prayers.” For years, India's intelligence services have been watching the emergence and flowering of a curious alliance between Dawood Ibrahim's Karachi-based organised crime empire and Pakistan's jihadists: men driven by the belief that the sacrifice of life in god's name will unlock the gates of a very different kind of paradise. Last week's arrest of Mumbai residents Abdul Latif Sheikh and Riyaz Ali for plotting terror attacks on Mumbai has once again focussed attention on these linkages. Bashir Khan, a Dawood lieutenant wanted for his role in planning the 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai, is alleged to have recruited the two men and supervised their operations. Driven by their common pursuit of power and legitimacy, enabled by decades of communal violence, and orchestrated by Pakistan's feared Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, the alliance enabled the emergence of a jihadist movement drawn from India's cities — and continues to do so. Dawood's alliance with the ISI began as a desperate effort to protect his empire. Estimate suggests that until 1991 Dawood's organised crime networks smuggled almost 200 tonnes of gold into India each year. However, the liberalisation of gold imports in 1992 led to the collapse of this enterprise. Pakistani narcotics traffickers Yusuf Godhrawala and Taufiq Jallianwala are believed to have carried overtures from the ISI in 1992, offering Dawood a share in their trade in return for funnelling weapons into India. By most accounts, Dawood initially resisted the pressure. After the anti-Muslim violence that followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid, though, hardline members of his networks like Mushtaq Abdul Razzak ‘Tiger' Memon are believed to have demanded retaliation. In January 1993, Dawood ordered his lieutenants to act. “Dawood Ibrahim exhorted us to rise in rebellion against the Hindus,” recalled gangster Salim Mirza Sheikh — known in Mumbai's underworld as ‘Salim Kutta,' or Salim the Dog — in a statement to police. Hundreds of kilograms of military-grade explosives, along with assault rifles and grenades provided by the ISI, were landed off the Maharashtra coast in early 1993. Bashir Khan played a key role in the operation — as well as the serial bombings which followed. Dawood's alliance with the ISI began as a desperate effort to protect his empire. Estimate suggests that until 1991 Dawood's organised crime networks smuggled almost 200 tonnes of gold into India each year. However, the liberalisation of gold imports in 1992 led to the collapse of this enterprise. Pakistani narcotics traffickers Yusuf Godhrawala and Taufiq Jallianwala are believed to have carried overtures from the ISI in 1992, offering Dawood a share in their trade in return for funnelling weapons into India. By most accounts, Dawood initially resisted the pressure. After the anti-Muslim violence that followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid, though, hardline members of his networks like Mushtaq Abdul Razzak ‘Tiger' Memon are believed to have demanded retaliation. In January 1993, Dawood ordered his lieutenants to act. “Dawood Ibrahim exhorted us to rise in rebellion against the Hindus,” recalled gangster Salim Mirza Sheikh — known in Mumbai's underworld as ‘Salim Kutta,' or Salim the Dog — in a statement to police. Hundreds of kilograms of military-grade explosives, along with assault rifles and grenades provided by the ISI, were landed off the Maharashtra coast in early 1993. Bashir Khan played a key role in the operation — as well as the serial bombings which followed.

Mumbai: India's most wanted gangster Dawood Ibrahim's henchmen in the city are bragging that the don has been approached to bail out Pakistan Railways, which is facing a serious financial crunch.
The buzz among underworld sources are that some Pakistani politicians and senior Inter-Services Intelligence officers (ISI) have asked Dawood to divert money to the smooth functioning of the railways.
The request to Dawood comes at a time when over 20-odd freight trains with loaded goods ran out of fuel in his backyard in Karachi, the hotbed of crime in Pakistan.

Large number of trains are also stranded at stations including Sukkur, Multan and Lahore, sources in Mumbai informed.
According to sources, the slowdown (confirmed by a Pakistani paper 30 freight trains with 4,085 rakes loaded with goods are stranded across Pakistan) has also affected Dawood's business as many believe that the goods on the stranded trains belong to his front companies.
D's big bucks
Investigations by Mumbai's police and central intelligence agencies have indicated that gangster Dawood invested heavily in the Karachi stock market.
Investment to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore has gone into construction companies, shopping malls, cement companies and an oil company in the Gulf.
Initial investigations indicate the investment could be in the region of Rs 1,000 crore. "Karachi's stock market will collapse if Dawood withdraws his investments from there.
He is probably one of the largest players in Pakistan's economy," said a senior police officer.
Police officials said that while construction and investments in malls could be a good cover up, most of Pakistan's economy revolves around heroin trade, fake currency and arms supply controlled by Dawood's younger brother Anees.
"Some of the front companies already pay money to several ministers and ISI personnel to shield them and provide them with security cover," said a source.
Dawood in BSE
The Indian intelligence agencies are already probing into the possibility of Dawood's investments in Mumbai's stock exchange.
The government is working on a specific report that terrorists have invested in Indian stock markets.
Dawood's business associates in Mumbai said the don could be approached by the Pakistani authorities because of his proximity to several business magnets, especially Sheikhs, in the oil-rich Gulf countries.

From ANI

Karachi, Sep 4(ANI): A Pakistani bookmaker has revealed that most of the bookies involved in match-fixing are ultimately answerable to India's 'most wanted man', Karachi-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Dawood who is believed to be worth 4 billion pounds, ultimately controls the cricket match-fixing business in Pakistan. His daughter Mahrukh is married to Junaid Miandad, son of former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad.

"If Mazhar Majeed (the London-based agent under investigation for Lord's Test 'spot-fixing') is guilty he is just small-fry," The Mirror quoted Nomi Khan, as saying.

"The rumor is he has been hung out to dry by one of the big syndicates that operate here and in India," he added.

Khan also revealed that about 20 percent of the regular punters already know the outcome when they place their stake.

"The players' body language is the key sign," Khan said.

He also admitted that his biggest gamblers collectively often earn up to half a million pounds on apparently long odds.

Talking about his life, Khan said that he has been in the business for the past five years, and earns about 270,000 pounds a year.

The sum is staggering when compared to the country's average earnings of 100 to 200 pounds a month.

"I rent out a separate flat for my business because it is totally illegal. I have seven people in a room on phones all the time. When people say they will pay up over the phone this is a contract," Khan said.

"The reason I've managed to do so well here in Pakistan is that people will bet on anything in cricket. Cricket is the perfect sport, much more than football, because there are so many aspects of the match you can give odds on," he added.

News on Cricket

Copyright Asian News International

JANU. IT was the short-name (user name) for his E-mail ID on the Net. Not many perhaps would like to use it as a term of endearment for him. D-company’s boss and the most notorious criminal in the subcontinent, Dawood Sheikh Ibrahim Kaskar, alias Dawood Ibrahim, however, wanted to log on as simply janu---which in Urdu is often used in a lovey-dovey sort of fashion by couples to address each other. It is derived from jaan, meaning life.

Ironically, the term is just apt as Dawood mostly deals out either life or death. The latter more so if one fails to warm the cockles of his heart in more ways than one. The deadly serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993 are said to be ample proof of Dawood’s ruthlessness in dealing with situations that are not exactly after his heart’s desire. But despite the fact that he wreaked havoc in Mumbai, Dawood fancies the city. His e-mail’s password was Mumbai and he used the city-based rediffmail.com to keep in touch.

Favourite drink

Johnny Walker, Black Label

Present whereabouts

Moin Palace, 2nd Floor, opposite Abdullah Shah Ghazi Dargah, Clifton, Karachi.
Phone. 7278866 and 7272887

However, times have changed and the gangster, who once appeared to be sitting pretty, initially in Dubai and now in Pakistan, far from the reach of the Indian law-enforcing authorities, is now feeling the heat. He figures prominently in the list of 20 most wanted men that India has given Pakistan for purposes of extradition. Though the Pakistani authorities have denied that Dawood is in the country, intelligence sources here claim that he has moved from the posh Clifton Road bungalow in Karachi to Orkazai, near Peshawar, after India put pressure on its neighbour to hand over the 46-year-old gangster.

The importance or the ignominy of being Dawood Ibrahim lies in the fact that the "self-employed businessman" (as he describes himself in his E-mail account) has perhaps become bigger than the state of Pakistan. His net worth is said to be more than Rs 30 billion and his ‘business interests’ are spread in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Dubai, Germany, France, the UK and several Muslim countries in Africa. This is besides the ‘interests’ that he has in Pakistan, where he controls the real estate business, stock exchanges and gun-running. His influence is so all-pervading that he ‘loaned’ Pakistan’s Central Bank millions of dollars two years back to help it tide over a crisis. Thus, from bankers to bootleggers, political leaders to army generals, cricketers to gun-runners and from society ladies to actresses and hashish dealers, all have an interest in Dawood and, he, in turn, has an interest in them.

Dawood has been an ‘honoured guest” in Pakistan and has been active politically and socially. According to reports, Dawood has major financial interests in real estate in Karachi and Islamabad. His buildings and other properties are out of the reach of the Pakistani authorities even when they flout the law blatantly. Dawood’s other pet investments are in the Karachi bourse and in the hundi system. His interest in cricket apparently remains undiminished. After his glamorous appearances in Sharjah one-dayers when he had top Indian actors and actresses at his beck and call, he now calls the shots in Pakistan.

The ISI needs him as much as the femmes fatales of the town. The former for even small chores like spotting Indian RAW agents in Pakistan and the latter for promoting their careers. Saba is one such Pakistani actress. Before her was Bollywood’s green-eyed beauty Mandakini. She reportedly has a son from Janu and is now safely ensconced in America.

Dawood’s recent travels

During President Musharraf’s Agra visit on July 14-15 last year, Dawood travelled under the name of Mohammed Anis to Singapore from Karachi on a fake Pakistani passport (H-123259).

He left Singapore for Hong Kong on July 15 on a Singapore Airlines’ flight after two days.

From Hong Kong he went to Dubai and on getting clearance from his Pakistani “masters” left for Karachi on the night of July 18/19.

On December 27, 2001, Dawood visited Dubai for nephew Sohail’s wedding.

After the marriage, Dawood left for Saudi Arabia on December 28 for Umrah (pilgrimage).

The small-time smuggler, who dabbled in bringing gold into India on Arab dhows just a couple of decades ago, leapfrogged into big time once he came into contact with the Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) wing. The two shared a couple of interests. The ISI wanted a person who felt strongly for his community. In other words, someone who could foment communal trouble whenever the need arose. Two, Pakistan’s territorial waters were a haven for gold smugglers. Dawood wanted his piece of action in that territory and an understanding was therefore reached.

The ISI allegedly helped Dawood to flourish. The gold-runner became a mafia don and his gang came to be known as D-company in Mumbai. Flush with funds, Dawood put his finger in every pie—from real estate to film production— and thought himself to be above the law. However, a spot of bother awaited him come 1993.


Dawood with his henchman Chota Rajan


According to intelligence sources, towards the end of 1992 the mafia’s financial interests came under pressure because of a fall in prices of gold. This squeezed the smuggling trade and Dawood had to seek the ISI’s help for greater use of the shipping routes under its control. In return for protection and help for transporting the yellow metal from the Gulf to India’s west coast, the ISI demanded that he become a carrier of weapons and explosives to be used by terrorists and criminals. Pakistani smugglers Taufiq Jalliawala and Yusuf Godrawala were used as go-betweens by the ISI. Once Dawood was on board, the ISI upped the ante and through Anees Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and others exploited the 1992-93 anti- Muslim riots in Mumbai to hatch the plan for the Mumbai blasts on March 12.

E- mail address of Dawood Ibrahim

User name Janu

Middle name Janu Ibrahim

Address 33, Park Monia Street, Mumbai

Profession Businessman (self employed)

Date of birth 26 December, 1957

E-mail account [email protected]

Password Mumbai

According to intelligence agencies, Dawood gave the green signal on January 10, 1993, and within a fortnight the explosives landed off the Konkan coast through two launches Bismillah and Sada-al-Bahar. Besides, 19 small-time criminals were picked up by Ibrahim Memon and sent to Pakistan via Dubai. They were issued transit visas by the Dubai immigration authorities. These criminals were trained on the nuts and bolts part of the operation. Tiger Memon himself visited Dubai thrice in February and March 1993 and met Dawood to finalise the arrangements. Another of Dawood’s agents, Mohammad Phanse, who was later arrested, had also gone to Dubai on January 19 to tie up the loose ends of the transportation plan for explosives. As per his statement, Dawood had asserted his determination to avenge the demolition of the Babri Masjid and had asked Phanse to take charge of the safe landing of the "chemicals." On March 12, the serial blasts shook Mumbai and Dawood, anticipating trouble (India has an extradition treaty with the UAE), flew to Pakistan and bought himself a huge bungalow in Karachi.


Dawood at Sharjah

Dawood has been an ‘honoured guest" in Pakistan ever since and has been active politically and socially. According to reports, Dawood has major financial interests in real estate in Karachi and Islamabad. His buildings and other properties are out of the reach of the Pakistani authorities even when they flout the law blatantly. Dawood other pet investments are in the Karachi bourse and in the hundi system. His interest in cricket apparently remains undiminished and after his glamorous appearances in Sharjah one-dayers when he had top Indian actors and actresses at his beck and call, he now calls the shots in Pakistan. According to Pakistani magazine Newsline: "Some of the Pakistani cricket players admit that at one time or another, they have sought Dawood’s help, financial or otherwise. Javed Miandad is allegedly very close to Dawood Ibrahim, and his recent stint in cricket, despite the opposition from other players, was reportedly at Dawood’s behest."

PASSPORTS OWNED BY DAWOOD IBRAHIM

K-650098
M-110522
P-537849
R-841697
V-57865
A-333602
A-501801
F-823692
G-866537 30.07.75
13.11.78
30.07.79
26.11.81
03.01.83
04.06.85
26.07.85
02.09.89
12.08.91 Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai
Rawalpindi

The magazine in its September 21, 2001, issue says that "Dawood’s sphere of influence has also encompassed the business community, with businessmen increasingly approaching Dawood to settle their financial disputes with other businessmen or for financial bailouts. Some former MQM militants are apparently working for Dawood as trouble-shooters." Newsline claimed that "many in the corridors of power have partaken of Dawood’s hospitality.

Dawood lives like a king in this Clifton Road bungalow in Karachi. It is spread over 6,000 sq. yards and boasts of a pool, tennis courts, snooker room and a hi-tech gym. He usually wakes up in the afternoon and after a swim, he has breakfast. Later, he gives audience to his employees and is briefed on his business affairs. From early evening onwards, it is party time. Dawood usually returns home after offering fajr prayers at dawn.

He often throws lavish mujras for Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats. A recent guest was a former caretaker Prime Minister...These are not the only members of the establishment who have close ties with Dawood. He is said to have the protection of assorted intelligence agencies. In fact, Dawood and his men move around the city guarded by heavy escorts of armed men in civies believed to be personnel of a top Pakistani security agency... A number of government undercover agents, who came into contact with Dawood because of their official duties, are now, in fact, working for him.


Indian actress Mandakini



Pakistani actress Saba


‘A major serves him a glass of water. Nearly all the men who surround him for security reasons are wither retired or serving officers,’ claims an MQM activist. ‘And he keeps them happy—buying them expensive apartments and showering them with favours. So they are more loyal to Dawood than the government of Pakistan’."

Dawood is important to Pakistan. He and his associates have a number of ‘valuable’ contacts in India that are regularly used by the ISI to carry out its activities. According to Indian security agencies, it is using Anees Ibrahim’s network to smuggle arms into the country. Anees is Dawood’s brother. He has links with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad in J and K and operates in the north -east through Jacky, an NSCN-IM activist based at Dimapur in Nagaland.

Indian operatives admit candidly that Pakistan has very little elbow room in acceding to India’s demand for Dawood’s extradition/deportation given the fact that he has a stranglehold on both its politics as well as the bureaucracy. But international pressure on Pakistan to hand over a man wanted for most heinous offences in India is growing by the day; given the climate against terrorism in all forms. Till date, however, it has remained a contentious issue leading to the possibility of more than just saber rattling by both the countries. The bottomline is, nevertheless, clearly emerging — the gangster who became larger than life because of his guns-and-molls image will have to fade away. Dusk is slowly but surely descending on the don. Whether it will be crimson or plain grey only time will tell.

HT Correspondents, Hindustan Times
Email Author
New Delhi/Mumbai, August 12, 2008First Published: 23:38 IST(12/8/2008)
Last Updated: 23:47 IST(12/8/2008)Share more...0 Comments Email print

It appears to be a case of ‘detention’ without confirmation. Through the day, television channels ran the ‘detention’ of Anees Ibrahim, prime accused in the March 1993 Mumbai blasts, but officials said they had no confirmation of the man’s identity. While the officials asserted that Saudi authorities had informed them they did not have any Anees Ibrahim in their custody, a picture of the man was to be handed over to the Saudis to establish the man's identity. Just in case.

Informed sources, however, told the Hindustan Times that three persons, one of them identified as ‘Anees Ibrahim’, were detained at the Jeddah airport by immigration authorities as they were found to be travelling on passports issued under different names. The other two persons travelling with ‘Anees’ have been identified as ‘Salim Chiplun and Shamsher Dawood’.

These sources claim that while ‘Anees’ was found to be travelling on a Pakistani passport under the name Sayeed Omar Haji Ibrahim; Salim and Shamsher were found to be traveling on passports carrying the name Sikandar Khan Iqbal Khan and Shafi Bawa Ahmed Bawa, respectively.

Mumbai’s Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said, “Through our sources we have learnt that three persons have been detained at Jeddah and we are in the process of establishing their identity through our sources. However, we are awaiting official confirmation in this regard.”

However, other officials claimed the Saudis had conveyed to Indian authorities that five persons were detained in Jeddah during the past 24 hours, out of which four were Chad nationals.

On the basis of media reports, Interpol Delhi has asked Interpol Riyadh for information about the man detained. There is an international arrest warrant out for the arrest of Anees Ibrahim.

Ibrahim has been detained at least twice before — in Dubai and Bahrain — but was let off.

Published: Sunday, Jan 31, 2010, 23:36 IST
By Aditya Kaul | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA

The Italian police have issued a red corner notice through Interpol against Naresh Kumar Jain, who is accused of running a hawala (money laundering) racket. At present, he is in judicial custody in New Delhi. The RCN has created the possibility of Jain being extradited to Italy once the investigation against him is completed in India.

Jain, who is seen as a key link between global drug traffickers and terrorist organisations such as the Taliban and al Qaeda, faces a number of cases in Italy.

For now, he is being investigated here by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). “We have received the red corner notice and it is being examined,” a senior ED official told DNA.

Jain was reported to be in touch with Albanian heroin traffickers in Italy. Intelligence agencies believe the hawala accused kept contact with one Parwez, a Pakistani national staying in Italy, and Qazmi, who is a co-accused with him in a narcotics case in Italy.

Italian investigators have estimated that Jain was laundering nearly $4 million daily. The racket was being run through a beauty parlour in Italy, which was the nodal office for all his drug and terror money dealings in Italy. In 2006, they unearthed Jain’s activities during a covert anti-narcotics operation called Operation Khyber Pass.

Trails led the authorities to Jain’s hawala business in Dubai and that is where they found proof of how drug money was being moved by Jain, using hawala. Police found that the beauty parlour was being used to route money from Jain’s bank accounts in Dubai to drug traffickers across the globe.

Jain was arrested by NCB on December 6 last year, under pressure from US and UK drug enforcement agencies, who believe he is the key link in a big drug and terror network.

A few days back, the ED had again taken remand of Jain to ask him where he diverted money from the pulse export scam. His brother Shyam is an accused in the scam. Apart from ED, the CBI and the directorate of revenue intelligence are also investigating the case.

Indian investigators have very little evidence against Jain. The only credible case against him is under the passport act, for entering India through the Nepal border. That leaves Indian agencies heavily dependent on information and evidence from foreign countries where he is facing several cases.

Former Union Minister and BJP MP Arun Shourie lamented that Swiss officials exposure in Hassan Ali Khan’s episode has exposed the character of the Congress-led UPA Government.
In a statement he expressed his shock over the Swiss Justice Ministry officials exposure about their rejection of request to disclose details of the accounts and transactions of Ali Khan as Indian Government had sent forged papers. He wondered that it was communicated to the Indian Government in early 2007, the Government was silent to the Swiss authorities reques to provide valid documents and to confirm that the case against Ali Khan is a criminal one
He said it is shocking that the Government has suppressed these facts “what it had ostensibly done, and what the Swiss Government had communicated to it “ from the Supreme Court in its affidavit-in- reply to the PIL that has been filed by concerned citizens. As is well known, suppression of facts from the court “ and that too from the highest court of the country “ is a grave offence on its own.
He said that this Government that has let Ottavio Quattrochi take away the money that had been frozen on orders of the courts; this Government which then used the CBI to let the man off the hook completely; this Government in which corruption has reached levels that were unheard of till now; this Government which has been consistently soft on terror, that this Government should now have stooped so low as to help an operator like Hassan Ali Khan by sending forged documents to a foreign Government is entirely in character.
According to media reports, he said that Ali Khan has been known to be connected to Dawood IbrahimDawood Ibrahim, known to have been channeling very large amounts from unknown sources into the Indian stock market and had 8 to 9 billion dollars in the UBS and other banks of Switzerland, has been responsible for hawala transactions of over Rs. 35,000 crore through Swiss banks.
He said that it is the Congress(I) Government of Karnataka which refused to permit the CBI to investigate the equally notorious Telgi, and later put obstacle after obstacle in its course. Apart from the sorts of statements by which it tried to mislead the country when L.K. Advani raised the demand for getting India’s stolen wealth back, the way it has helped Hassan Ali Khan exposes its character. The former Union Minister said that as long as such a Government is in office, the country will never get its wealth back.
Moreover, international bodies as well the National Security Advisor of this very Government have pointed out that black money, hawala operations as well as tax havens are being used by terrorists and agencies like the ISI for carrying out terrorist and anti-India operations.
He said the Asia Pacific Group, which has been studying money laundering and terrorist operations, pointed out in 2005 that India had not taken the requisite steps in this regard, that it had not even carried out the comprehensive threat assessment that was required.
No less an authority than the National Security Advisor has been stressing publicly since early 2007 that stricter provisions need to be put in place to check money flows to and from tax havens, and to ensure that banking secrecy is brought to an end, as these channels are being used by terrorists and their sponsors. But exactly at the same time, the Government had sent forged documents foreclose any possibility of facts being discovered about Hassan Ali Khan and his associates.
He said that the Government-appointed Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by its very own, M. Veerappa Moily, also drew attention to the urgent need to plug terrorist financing. (EOM)

Sources reveal how a small-time convict from Kandivli went to Pakistan and pumped bullets into IM mastermind Riyaz Bhatkal.
Even as the daring shootout that killed India's most wanted terrorist and chief of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, Riyaz Bhatkal has thrown investigators into a huddle, the needle of suspicion points to a Mumbai assassin.
According to sources, the man identified as the shooter is a former convict affiliated to Mumbai's underworld.

Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Rakesh Maria told MiD DAY that there is a delay in gathering details of the killing, and confirming facts. There are enough details though, Maria pointed out.
The identification of the shooters and the slain terrorists could be delayed as they could be carrying fake travel documents and living under assumed names in Dubai and later in Karachi.
The killer
Sources informed that the hireling is a contract killer from Kandivli, who was named in earlier supari hits. He jumped bail and was assigned the task to carry out the killings in Karachi. He is known to have worked as an informer in various gangs, and belongs to the lower rung of society.
Who did it?
While the grapevine is rife with rumours and theories surrounding the brains behind the murder, fingers are pointing at the involvement of the Chhota Rajan gang. Sources suggested that the kaam or job was outsourced through fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan, who is known for his desh bhakti banner.
The name of incarcerated gangster Babloo Srivastava has also emerged for his alleged role in providing logistic support to the death squad. While some sources pointed out that the operation could have been masterminded by Indian intelligence sources.
Operation Bhatkal
One theory doing the rounds is that the unnamed shooter was shown the two targets travelling in a Toyota near Karina Market in downtown Karachi by intelligence operatives. The shooter opened fire on the two men, who succumbed to their injuries in a nearby hospital.
Face of terror
Bhatkal has been the face of the Indian Mujahideen for the past seven years. He has been the mastermind of several blasts in the country including serial blasts in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Bangalore. After his death, the IM will be forced to come up with a new commander to fill Bhatkal's shoes.
Nepal route
The contract killer appears to have slipped into Karachi via Nepal. The back-up team comprising of locals and porters from Nepal posed as carriers from Kathmandu carting items like kurtas and sherwanis to Karachi as a cover for their operation.
Earlier hits
Underworld sources said Indian intelligence had earlier pulled of a similar operation by bumping off Dawood Ibrahim's key associate and Nepali Member of Parliament Mirza Dilshad Baig with the help of Rajan's henchmen Farid Tanasha and Balu Dokre at Kathmandu on June 7, 1998.
Rajan had earlier made dozens of attempts on the life of his former mentor Dawood Ibrahim with the help of his lieutenant Farid Tanasha.
The killer squad had to abort the operations due to the ISI security cover around Dawood. Some of the shooters in Tanasha's team include Bunty Pandey, Vicky Malhotra, Balu Dokre, Ejaz Lakdawala and Ejaz Pathan.
Kaam is the underworld lingo for a contract killing. It is a synonym to the term supari and is more commonly used by henchmen these days.

suryag wrote:What was the need to reveal the whole modus operandi, how he went to nepal, karachi, nepali porters why all this in the open ?

He jumped bail and was assigned the task to carry out the killings in Karachi. He is known to have worked as an informer in various gangs

Certainly things are looking like this was a hit. There was speculation that Shahed Bilal was also an intel op, but later IB said it was ISI who bumped him off using local gangsters.

One theory doing the rounds is that the unnamed shooter was shown the two targets travelling in a Toyota near Karina Market in downtown Karachi by intelligence operatives. The shooter opened fire on the two men, who succumbed to their injuries in a nearby hospital.

Dawood Ibrahim's gang is recruiting local criminals from neighbouring states such as Gujarat to smuggle drugs into Mumbai, investigations by the Mumbai police suggest.

Hardcore criminals from border districts of Kutch in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kashmir are under the scanner of the Mumbai police, said Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Himanshu Roy.

According to Roy, the gangs are using recruits from border towns to smuggle drugs into the city. And the seizures made so far in this direction could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Dawood Ibrahim's gang on a recruitment spree

Investigations carried out by MiD DAY indicated that some of the dhows, plying along the African and Arabian coasts, are often used for ferrying narcotics. And in most cases, vessels carrying livestock are used for the purpose.

Naval route

These dhows usually carry huge consignments of goats and sheep to Dubai and a few other Arab countries.

On their return journey, they drop anchor at a few ports in Iran and Pakistan and often load consignments of drugs in the pretext of refuelling with cheap high-speed diesel.

The vessels usually return with a few dead animals onboard. Consignments of high-quality brown sugar and heroin are often stashed into the rib cage of some of the carcasses.

The dhows, which reek of rotten carcasses and animal excreta, is rarely checked when they enter Indian waters. Some of the ports in Kutch are barely a few hours voyage from some Pakistani ports.

The dhow usually slips into the estuary and berths along one of the 15 nondescript ports that dot the Kutch coast.

The local mafia, who are now working in tandem with the D gang, control villages in and around these ports. According to eyewitnesses, the carcasses are carried to a secluded place and the packets removed.

If a low quality brown sugar is sold for around Rs 4 lakh per kg, high quality Pakistani heroin fetches around Rs 10 lakh per kg.

A survey conducted by MiD DAY revealed that there are hardly any checks along the high seas. Nor are there many anti-narcotics and customs officials posted at the ports that dot the picturesque coastline.

According to sources, Santalia gang is considered one of the main drug smugglers along the Jamnagar-Kutch coasts.

Gangster Dawood Ibrahim's aide Dawood Khan alias Chhota Dawood is identified as the key operator from across the border.

The drug peddlers adulterate high quality brown sugar and heroin with boric powder and other impurities to make quick money. The hirelings are paid around Rs 10,000 per consignment, which could weigh up to 5 kg.

Ek Cutting! Saaman Aya

Brown sugar is called khaki, kapda, shirt, saaman because of its brown colour.

Last updated on: February 15, 2011 16:45 IST

Vicky Nanjappa

Cricket, betting and match-fixing go hand in hand. With the World Cup round the corner, the menace could only grow bigger.

While there are rungs of security guarding the venues and players against possible terror strikes, dedicated teams have been put on the job to keep track of possible betting and match-fixing during the mega event, beginning February 19.

However, according to the police and Intelligence Bureau, cracking the code of bookies and match-fixers won't be easy, because the strategy adopted by them will be different.

According to police officials, there is a major change in the pattern in which these persons operate. Betting was prominent in obvious places where black marketing was rampant, but the operators have shifted base to resorts from where they run the racket.

The Intelligence Bureau believes that while betting remains a small problem, match-fixing is the bigger issue threatening the game.

A Pakistani bookmaker had recently revealed that a large part of the betting racket is controlled by the Dawood Ibrahim gang and all bookies involved in the match-fixing scandal are answerable to Dawood, who operates out of Karachi. This has been confirmed by the IB.

Mumbai's enduring gangland war has claimed another casualty. City police have confirmed that Bharat Nepali, a former army man-turned-feared don, was gunned down by suspected Chhota Rajan henchmen in Bangkok in November last year.

News of the killing started circulating two months ago, but since Nepali (44) was living in Thailand under a fictitious name, it could not be corroborated. Now, however, the Mumbai police have received confirmation from their Bangkok counterparts of the death of one Bhagwant Singh (Nepali's real name).

"A central intelligence agency has confirmed the killing. We are now awaiting the pictures and the case papers, which will be sent by the Bangkok police through the ministry of external affairs since there is an extradition treaty between the two countries," said a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity.

Nepali was a trusted lieutenant of Rajan before they parted ways in 2005 and Nepali formed his own rival gang. He is said to be the mastermind behind the cold-blooded killings of advocate Shahid Azmi and Rajan aide Farid Tanasha last year.

The officer said the slaying occurred in the second week of November near a mall in Bangkok's crowded City Market where Nepali was visiting an associate's electronic shop. Around 4.30 pm, as the don stepped out of the mall, two gunmen, who had been lying in wait for hours, pumped three to four bullets into him before disappearing into the crowd.

The officer added that the hired guns had conducted recces before carrying out the murder and knew that Nepali often hobnobbed with the shopowner.

Soon after the killing, the Rajan gang called up Indian TV channels and claimed responsibility for the act. But for the Mumbai police, the murder is still a mystery. They have not yet discounted the theory that Nepali might have been murdered by his own henchmen.

The Bangkok police have informed Indian authorities that Nepali's body was received by a Nepalese woman claiming to be the gangster's wife. She was accompanied by a child.

Nepali's death has given some comfort to Indian intelligence agencies, which were struggling to contain the don's growing clout.

Born in Kathmandu in Nepal, Bharat Nepali grew up in Uttar Pradesh. He joined the Indian army in 1983 and was immediately attached to the Artillery 95 Field Regiment. Over the years he was posted in several places, including Jammu and Kashmir, before being discharged from service on medical grounds in 1994.

In Mumbai, Nepali worked as a Chembur-based businessman's driver before being introduced to Chhota Rajan. The underworld don reportedly took a liking for Nepali and hired him as a driver. There was no looking back after that. Soon, Nepali was elevated to the rank of a gang member, and, in 1998, hit the limelight for the murder of Nepali parliamentarian Dilshad Mirza Beg. He was also the prime accused in the 1997 murder of trade union leader Datta Samant. Nepali moved to Bangkok to join Rajan in 2001. The next year, there was an attempt on Rajan which he survived, but cleaved his gang.

Rajan and Nepali split in 2005. For many years, Nepali lay low along with associates Vijay Shetty and Santosh Shetty, before making his presence felt again last year. In February, Nepali got Jamim Shah, a Nepalese television entrepreneur and an alleged aide of Dawood Ibrahim, killed. He followed it up the same month with the murder of lawyer Shahid Azmi, who was representing 26/11 accused Faheem Ansari. In June, he declared war against Rajan by killing Rajan's trusted aide Farid Tanasha.

There was no looking back after that. Soon, Nepali was elevated to the rank of a gang member, and, in 1998, hit the limelight for the murder of Nepali parliamentarian Dilshad Mirza Beg.

Read more: Dreaded Mumbai don Bharat Nepali shot dead in Bangkok - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... z1E6zPL1hd

n February, Nepali got Jamim Shah, a Nepalese television entrepreneur and an alleged aide of Dawood Ibrahim, killed. He followed it up the same month with the murder of lawyer Shahid Azmi, who was representing 26/11 accused Faheem Ansari.

Rampy wrote:For me it sounds so convinent that one new Don kills Batkal in Pak and old Don (Still identity being mystery) gets killed and news come just at the same time ??

A Janata Dal (Secular) leader has lodged a police complaint saying he has been receiving extortion calls from outside the country.

Prakash Babu aka Kabbadi Babu reportedly told the police that the caller, who had identified himself only as ‘SS’ from Hong Kong, demanded Rs5 crore.

The politician received the first call in his Jayanagar office telephone on January 11. The man demanded the money and disconnected. A little while he called again, and had a pep talk.

The caller also enquired how the leader’s son has been doing.

The unidentified man also asked about Babu’s cable TV business.

Babu received another call two days later, again demanding Rs5 crore. The next day, the politician lodged a police complaint.

A few days later Babu received another call from a man, who identified himself as Sunil from Bellary. Sunil told him the previous callers were Dawood Ibrahim’s henchmen, and that he called to settle the deal. Following this call, Babu filed another police complaint in January 28.

The Jayanagar police, meanwhile, said someone known to Babu might have made the extortion calls. The police said they were also checking with the Interpol the telephone numbers Babu had provided.

Suresh Nandi, Mumbai, Feb 17, DHNS:

With cricket fever gripping the world, the underworld is upbeat, perhaps even more than the cricket enthusiasts, as they are gearing up to make a killing virtually through betting on the World Cup event event slated to be held across three countries in the Asian continent.

Rough estimate from informed sources in the betting circles suggest that the 49 World Cup matches to be played in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would generate a turnover of around Rs 1.47 lakh crore. The betting turnover looks impressive next only to Rs 1.76 lakh crore, the presumptive loss to the government from 2G spectrum sale as per the CAG report.

Sources aver that the turnover from the 18 group elimination matches are estimated between Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 2,000 crore per each match, while the stakes could be higher for the quarter-final matches anywhere between Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 3,000 crore.

And for the semis, the betting turnover may spurt to around Rs 4,000 crore and the stake could even be higher at Rs 5,000 crore, especially India reaches the finals.
Most of the top bookies and their punters have shifted base to plush farmhouses on the outskirts of the city in search of a safe haven, say insiders. Some have even moved to Surat and some are camping at casinos in Goa, they say. A punter said, “We find it safer to operate from outside Mumbai as the police will turn the heat on the bookies when the World Cup starts. Most law enforcement agenciesare equipped with a phone tracking system, making us vulnerable to arrests.”

Needless to say, the whopping money involved in cricket betting has attracted the attention of the underworld. Some of the key players are members of the Dawood Ibrahim and Santosh Shetty gangs, operating from South East Asia.

“We are keeping tabs on bookies suspected to be working for the underworld. The recovery of 10 SIM cards from Dubai service providers points to bookies are keeping in touch with their counterparts in the Gulf,” said Jt Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy.

When the Indo-Pak talks recommence the man which India would be seeking the most is Dawood Ibrahim. He is India’s biggest menace and his network continues to be extremely strong in the country and the police force does not appear to be doing enough to stem this rot, the Intelligence Bureau says.

Be it a match fixing scandal, fake currency, drug racket and now the infamous 2G scam, they all have imprints of the notorious Dawood Ibrahim, security agencies point out. Sources say that the talks between the two countries will focus largely on the D factor and India will hand out proof of his existence at Karachi and how he is being sheltered by the ISI.

In the past two weeks, the D gang has figured in two very major incidents. The death of Sadiq Batcha and now the match fixing scandal. When Batcha committed suicide it was said by investigating agencies that there was a huge hawala racket attached to this scam which the police were all set to bust. Unfortunately the name of Dawood figured in this hawala transaction as such things involving such huge chunks of cash can be done only by someone like Dawood and his men. The CBI’s was planning on questioning Balwa whose company the intelligence suspect had links with the D gang.

Proof of the Dawood Ibrahim link to the 2G scam comes out in the open now, with membes of his gang handing out a threat to blow up the CBI office in New Delhi. The CBI is in possession of documents which pin point to the D connection and further probing would have gone on to reveal the exact link between this gang and a host of other Indians who were involved in this scam. The CBI has informed the Ministry of Home affairs regarding this threat and security has been beefed up around the CBI office which houses the documents pertaining to the multi crore 2G scam. In addition to this security has also been beefed up in the other centres of the CBI which is handling the 2G spectrum scam.

The other issue that connects the D gang is the latest revealation of the Australia-Zimbabwe game being fixed. The police have claimed that they picked up three men belonging to the D gang who had fixed the game. The anti corruption wing of the ICC has been informed about the same. It is said that the men indulged in spot fixing as a result of which the Aussies had scored slowly in the first ten overs of the game.

The Aussies have however rubbished this and say that the ICC is not looking into any such charge. Sources however point out that the matter is still in a very preliminary stage and the interrogation of the three men will throw more light on the case. It is hard to come to any conclusion whether the match was fixed or not. The three men who were picked up were in the same hotel to do the same thing that is being alleged. Whether they managed to get access to the players and whether they did finally manage to convince them is something which will trickle in soon.

While there is confusion over the fixing of this game, the security agencies say that the D gang is very much into this business. It is rated at number 3 in their list of notorious activities after fake currency and hawala. They have their men all over the world who manage this business and despite tracking down almost every move, they still do manage to get in touch with the players through international calls which suggests that a large part of the fixing is also done from outside the country.

While these are issues that will come up for discussion during the talks between the two nations, it looks like India is finally accepting that the D gang did have a role to play in the 26/11 attack. Despite the media reporting it over and over again, the investigators had refused to accept that the D gang was even remotely involved in this incident. Today India finds the need to investigate deeper into the D connection to the 26/11 attack. The issue of local help has always been a question mark and despite David Headley singing in front of the NIA, they have never been establish the local link properly. During the talks the D issue will be debated with Pakistan and India will go that extra mile to point out the importance of Dawood.

The IB says that getting Dawood is like almost putting an end to most of India’s troubles. He is a key player in the terrorist rung in India since he continues to be their primary funder. Be it through money earned by drug smuggling or fake currency racket or even a hawala transaction, nearly 40 per cent of this money lands up with the ISI which uses it for terror operations.

India will hand out a dossier which would include the name of Dawood and 400 other terrorists who are believed to be sheltered in Pakistan. Security agencies however say that it appears highly unlikely that Pakistan will hand over custody of Dawood since they would not want the ISI to lose their trump card. His custody would spell doom not only for operations in Pakistan but will also reveal the big names in India who have been associated with him in the past many years.

VikramS wrote:From TFT Such Gup:

Who is this Seth A?

Another interesting relationship that has recently been cemented is the one between David Abraham the great Bombay don, who lives in Karachi, and Seth A, also a man of means, real estate baron and one-time facilitator of precious metals across borders. Their kids tied the knot recently – SA’s daughter has married DA’s son – in a low key ceremony attended only by close friends and family.

VikramS wrote:

shravan wrote:Sheikh Abid Hussain alias Seth Abid ^

Could not resist

Sheikh Abid Hussain alias Seth Abid. He is one of the most resourceful developers/builders in the country owning vast stretches of land in major cities. On this land worth many billion of rupees, Seth has constructed residential schemes under the brand name of “Green Fort.” Seth came into this business after decades of notoriety as being one of the spearheads in cross-border smuggling. While many remember Seth for his allegedly illegal trading stints, a lot of informed circles still say with conviction that he, along with Dr.Qadeer and former Premier Bhutto, was the brain behind the success of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. About three dozen of Seth’s very close relatives, friends and nephews are members of country’s bourses and for many years now, the Seth Abid group assumes the role of king-makers during the annual polls of these stock exchanges.

He is a leading investor in stocks, metals and currency but what gives him immense pleasure is his philanthropic institution Hamza Foundation that he sponsors for the welfare of deaf and dumb children. Pakistan has not had a single ruler, politician, bureaucrat or Army General who doesn’t know the Seth who is more of a myth for most. The Seth, throughout his life, has avoided publicity-a fact known to most journalists.

ramana wrote:
http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 8#p1081918

I also request you and chaanakya to go through the GIS paper(MIT pdf) and locate Hafiz Saaed and Dawood Ibrahim.

Now we understand the need for the high res imagery!

Source: Nishant A Bhuse | Last Updated 23:41(05/05/11)

World's second most wanted terrorist, fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, shifted his base from Pakistan to an Arab country on the night of May 1, 2011.

Highly placed sources in the Indian Intelligence agencies have revealed that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his family, with his close associate Chhota Shakeel, have shifted base from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was aware that Central Investigation Agency (CIA) of America had located and cordoned Osama Bin Laden’s hideout in Pakistan and after the elimination of the 9/11 mastermind, India would definitely pressurise the United Nations and Pakistan government to hand over the fugitive gangster.

Anticipating the demand, Dawood and his family were immediately asked to vacate his palatial ‘Mohin Palace’ located near the Saudi mosque at the Clifton area in Karachi and shift his base on the dark night of May 1, 2011, when operation Osama was about to be executed.

An insider from the intelligence agency has also revealed the travel route taken by the Don.

"Dawood and his family travelled over 670 miles in 15 hours through the express road route from Karachi to Kabul in Afghanistan, accompanied by his personal security and a caravan of six bullet proof Range Rovers vehicles. The don and his family further boarded a private jet from Kabul K Rawash airport to Bahrain airport in Saudi Arabia."

Though Dawood recently underwent an open heart surgery, the don had to take a calculative risk to travel via road route, which was safe in view of ISI officials. Sources said that one of the SUVs of Dawood had a portable Intensive Care Unit system installed with a doctor round the clock in case of emergency.

A source elaborates, "His last location was Bahrain airport after which the intelligence agencies lost contact with the fugitive don. Since he and his family have gowned new identity with Saudi passports."

Headlines Today accessed a secret intelligence dossier which says that the ISI has shifted the notorious underworld kingpin to Azerbaijan or Tajakistan. He has been moved out to keep him from the post-Laden killing troubles.

Ibrahim's drug network has spread its tentacles in these two countries giving him a solid base in the region. Indian intelligence agencies have interpreted it as a deliberate attempt to deflect pressure on Pakistan about the Indian underworld don's presence.

Ibrahim has already returned to the Indo-Pak discourse in a big way after the Geronimo mission. His name figures in the list of over 40 criminals that India wants Pakistan to hand over.

shyamd wrote:Exclusive: Dawood shifted base from Pakistan the night Osama was killed

Highly placed sources in the Indian Intelligence agencies have revealed that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his family, with his close associate Chhota Shakeel, have shifted base from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

Venkarl wrote:

Highly placed sources in the Indian Intelligence agencies have revealed that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his family, with his close associate Chhota Shakeel, have shifted base from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

So, as a usual duty, Indian Intelligence was snooping Paki lines on Monday night...and these fake intercepts were made by ISI while OBL is being whacked on Monday night...?? And this would have happened on Tuesday?? is that what you said?

shyamd wrote:He is definitely not going to be in azerbaijan or tajikistan. That was what was in the intel report. But india having released that is hinting to the ISI something. Probably that we know he was moved.
Azeri & tajik are pro india and pro israaeel/CIA. He would never go there, and I'd be shocked if he did. If anything the safest place to be would be in KSA. That's where I would go if I was him. I would have flown karachi in a private jet straight into a mil base or private airstrip. And taken to a nice guesthouse I would have kept just for such occassions.

Anyway, ISI s''t their pants.