The Hindu : Cautious reaction in Mumbai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

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National

Cautious reaction in Mumbai

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI DEC. 9. A lot of caution and some small hope is all that the authorities here are entertaining following the detention of Anees Ibrahim, brother of the underworld don, Dawood Ibrahim, in Dubai, saying that the entire matter was being handled by the CBI and the External Affairs Ministry.

All that Maharashtra would look forward to is the return of Anees to the country so that he can be tried in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case, which coincidentally, concluded its long hearings.

His return prior to a judgment could help reopen the trial, sources said. The State might only have to send the fingerprints of the man to help nail him.

The 42-year-old underworld operative, at the top in the Dawood Ibrahim's corporation of crime, has several cases, including four murders, 11 major extortions, and involvement in the training in Pakistan of persons in handling explosives that were planted and set off in Mumbai.

He had also supplied arms, including AK-47s and grenades, which were, however, not used in the blasts. The authorities are not exulting, as these detentions overseas do not automatically lead to quick deportation. Even before an extradition attempt gets underway, snarls develop and lead to disappointment. It had happened in the case of Anees himself in 1996.

At that time, a red-corner notice through the Interpol led to his being detained in the Gulf region but a technicality enabled him to escape. The detention of Abu Salem, another don in Portugal, in August, did not bring him anywhere near to the law here.

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