Dawood Ibrahim's right hand Iqbal Mirchi being quizzed in UK; extradition process on

LONDON/NEW DELHI: Iqbal Memon alias ' Iqbal Mirchi', who is wanted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts was being questioned on Wednesday by Scotland Yard, even as India said the process involving extradition of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's right hand man was being initiated.

A close aide of Dawood, 61-year-old Memon is wanted by Mumbai police in connection with cases related to drug peddling and 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

He was arrested on Tuesday in Romford, Essex.

In New Delhi, an official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said the extradition process was being initiated for him. "A Red Corner notice for the arrest of Memon had been issued and continues to be valid, which means that he is a wanted person and that we do seek his extradition back to India. The processes involved for his extradition are being initiated," the spokesperson added.

Memon, who in the past has denied being involved in organised crime or terrorism, was arrested by Scotland Yard in 1995 on drugs and terrorism charges in connection with a series of bomb blasts in Mumbai in 1993.

The charges were later replaced by one relating to the murder of a former Mirchi employee, who was shot dead in India. But an extradition request was refused by magistrates who ruled there was no case to answer.