Anees detained in Jeddah?

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Intelligence has approached Saudi Arabian authorities to ascertain veracity of reports on the arrest of Anees Ibrahim, the younger brother of India���s most-wanted, Dawood Ibrahim. Anees is reported to have been detained in Jeddah for carrying a fake passport.

Anees Ibrahim is an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast. Home minister Shivraj Patil said the authorities are trying to ascertain the veracity of the report of his detention.

The CBI query follows reports that Anees Ibrahim, against whom an Interpol Red Corner notice was issued, had been detained at the Jeddah airport. Senior CBI officials said that the agency has approached the Saudi authorities ���telephonically as well as through other modes of communications.���

Besides the 1993 Mumbai blasts, Ibrahim is also wanted in nearly 70 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, kidnapping for ransom pending against him in several states.

In 2002, Anees was arrested in Dubai in connection with the murder of another gangster. He was bailed out and deported to Pakistan hours before CBI could send a request for his extradition. The CBI had requested his extradition on the grounds that Ibrahim was one of the main conspirators of Mumbai blasts.

India does not have an extradition treaty with Saudi Arabia. In 1996, Anees was detained by Dubai authorities but was later let off for want of evidence.