Centre goes after Dawood gang properties

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has launched a serious drive to break underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's nexus in India and has roped in the Enforcement Directorate to investigate all properties linked to the D-gang and other associates, besides attorneys and politicians helping him launder the crime proceeds.

The ED, which is being assisted by other agencies to collate information related to financial interests of the Dawood gang in India and abroad, last week wrote to the BMC seeking information on specific land and building deals made by Dawood associates in Mumbai.

Transactions in properties, drug rackets and extortions are believed to be running into thousands of crores. A source said the D-gang's operations in India were mainly run by Iqbal Mirchi, who died in the UK, and his relatives. The proceeds of crime were laundered to foreign destinations where it was reinvested in properties.

The agency is in the process of formally approaching enforcement agencies of the UK, Cyprus, Turkey, Spain and Morocco with specific information on bank accounts and property details of D-gang associates.

Sources said the agency has specific information where Dawood's major investments were made through Iqbal Mirchi and his associates. Some of these properties are located at Worli seaface. The agency has put all those people, including lawyers, under the scanner for helping him in the sale of these properties. Some of these transactions date back to 2010.

Home minister Rajnath Singh had clarified in Parliament that India has specific location details of Dawood, which it had from time to time shared with Pakistan, seeking the gangster's extradition.

Soon after the Parliament session, the government put together all its investigative agencies to track all financial interests of the D-gang to launch a crackdown in India and abroad. The ED, after investigation will move to attach these properties and seek similar cooperation from enforcement agencies in foreign countries.