Home Ministry to probe most-embarrassed list

NEW DELHI: A red-faced government has ordered a probe into alleged goof-up that saw the inclusion of Mumbai-based Wazhul Kamar Khan, an accused in the Mulund railway station blast out on bail, in the list of 50 most-wanted fugitives hiding in Pakistan.

The Union Home Ministry said it would examine as to how the mistake of naming Wazhul Khan as a Pakistan-based absconder crept in.

Apart from causing embarrassment to the Government of India, the goof-up may give a handle to Islamabad to question New Delhi's claims on the whereabouts of the remaining fugitives on the list. As it is, Islamabad never tires of rubbishing Indian claims on fugitives - such as 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim being sheltered in Pakistan. The Wazhul Khan blooper could encourage Pakistan to raise doubts over authenticity of the most-wanted list handed to it by New Delhi.

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday tried to play down the error. Speaking to reporters in Agartala, where he is on an official visit, Chidambaram said a big issue should not be made out of one wrong name in the list.

"The list was prepared months ago. Just one name...whether it is the same person or two persons of same name, we have to see. Be that as it may, assuming that we are wrong in one name, I don't think we should make a big issue of it. It is possible there could be an error or there could be two people with same name. I will go back and check," he was quoted as saying.

MHA sources added that the inclusion of Wazhul Khan in the list of Pakistan-based fugitives may have been a cut and paste job at some stage or even a confusion relating to a name. "The probe will find out who is responsible," said an official.

The list was drawn up by the Home Ministry in consultation with the Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigation Agency.

The Mumbai police distanced itself from the goof-up, saying that it was not consulted by New Delhi when it drew up the list of 50 most-wanted fugitives hiding in Pakistan.

Khan continues to be listed on the CBI website as a fugitive facing an Interpol red-corner notice, even though his name should have been struck off after he was arrested on May 10, 2010, from Kurla, a Mumbai suburb, with a 7.65 mm pistol and three live cartridges. Though initially charged under the Arms Act, the Mumbai Police on May 21 arrested him in the Mulund blast case.

The 44-year-old man has been living in Thane's Waghle Estate with his family after he obtained bail.