HC asks Centre to file affidavit on Kaskar's passport plea

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today directed the Union Government and regional passport office to file their affidavits in reply to a petition of Iqbal Kaskar, younger brother of fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, against non-issuance of a fresh passport to him.

A division bench of Justices P V Hardas and A S Gadkari directed the authorities to file their affidavits within a week.

Kaskar was refused fresh passport on the ground that the appeal against him in the 'Sara-Sahara' land grabbing case was pending before the high court. A lower court had acquitted Kaskar in the case, following which the state government had appealed in the high court.

Kaskar was tried under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for entering a criminal conspiracy to construct shopping malls called 'Sara-Sahara', on a government-owned land, at the instance of his brother and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Kaskar's application seeking issuance of fresh passport was rejected also on the ground that he may travel abroad to aide his brother in terrorist activities.

"We told the court that once a fresh passport is issued, Kaskar would surrender it to the local police and seek the court's permission to travel abroad. He (Kaskar) wants to go on Umrah (pilgrim to Mecca)," Kaskar's advocates Ayaz Khan and Zehra Charania said.