Key Points:
- ED Action: Enforcement Directorate seizes a Rs 55 lakh flat in Thane linked to Iqbal Kaskar, Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
- Allegations: The property, owned by Mumtaz Ejaz Shaikh, was allegedly forcibly taken from real estate developer Suresh Devichand Mehta by Kaskar and his associates.
- Case History: Linked to a 2017 FIR under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
- Dawood Ibrahim’s Shadow: Kaskar, suspected of managing Dawood’s operations in India, is in judicial custody, while Dawood is believed to operate from Pakistan with ties to intelligence agencies and terror outfits.
Mumbai: ED Tightens Grip on Dawood Network, Seizes Rs 55 Lakh Flat in Money Laundering Probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its crackdown on fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s criminal network, taking possession of a flat worth Rs 55 lakh in Thane, Maharashtra. The property, linked to Dawood’s brother Iqbal Kaskar, was seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Details of the Seized Property
The flat, located in Neopolis Building, Thane West, was under the name of Mumtaz Ejaz Shaikh, an alleged associate of Kaskar. Originally attached provisionally under a 2022 PMLA order, the possession was finalized after approval from the PMLA tribunal.
Sources reveal that the flat was forcibly acquired from real estate developer Suresh Devichand Mehta. According to ED findings, Kaskar and his associates pressured Mehta, who ran Darshan Enterprises, into handing over the flat and issuing cheques totaling Rs 40 lakh. These cheques were encashed through cash withdrawals.
The 2017 FIR and MCOCA Charges
The money laundering case is tied to a 2017 FIR filed by the Thane police under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Kaskar, along with Mumtaz Sheikh and Israr Ali Jameel, was accused of using his ties to the Dawood underworld to extort property and money.
Kaskar is currently in judicial custody, facing multiple charges. His links to Dawood Ibrahim, who has been designated a global terrorist by India, remain a central focus of the investigation.
The Dawood Connection
Dawood Ibrahim, India’s most wanted criminal, is suspected of operating from Karachi, Pakistan. With alleged connections to Pakistani intelligence agencies and terror organizations, Dawood has been accused of orchestrating organized crime and terrorist activities in India.
Kaskar, deported from the UAE in 2003, is believed to have managed Dawood’s operations in Mumbai and other parts of India. In February 2022, the ED questioned Kaskar regarding the Dawood gang’s activities and conducted searches at the residences of key suspects, including Mumtaz Sheikh and Saeed.
A Broader Crackdown on Dawood’s Empire
The ED’s probe has unearthed financial transactions designed to obscure the beneficiaries of illicit funds. The agency’s recent actions demonstrate its resolve to dismantle the financial network sustaining Dawood’s criminal empire.
What’s Next?
The ED is expected to intensify its investigations, focusing on uncovering additional assets linked to Kaskar and Dawood’s associates. Meanwhile, the seizure of the Thane property sends a strong message about India’s commitment to dismantling organized crime networks.
