Iqbal Kaskar, in custody of the Thane police for an extortion case, claimed to have spoken to brother Dawood Ibrahim’s first wife Mehjabeen last year over the phone. He had previously claimed he met Dawood back in 2003. Iqbal also claimed he did not have any bank accounts and all his business transactions were in cash only.
He also alluded to a mutually beneficial relationship with two corporators, who he said visited him in Mumbai for a ‘special non-vegetarian dish’ that was made in his house. “Woh log Bombay special dish khane ke liye aate the aur main unko khilata tha (The corporators would come to Bombay to a eat special dish that I would offer them).
Police sources said after being deported to Mumbai from Dubai in 2003, Iqbal never went back because the police had seized his passport. But he was in touch with his family members in Dubai over the phone. “We checked his phone and found Dubai numbers,” a police inspector from the Thane commissionerate said. Iqbal claimed Mehjabeen would come to Dubai to meet the Kaskar family and would also help out with any problem they had. “We found Dubai-based mobile numbers. He also had a six-digit number on his phone, which we are tracing,” said DCP Abhishek Trimukhe, Thane crime branch.
Police sources said Iqbal also revealed the names of five other D Company members from Mumbai and Thane.
About his business, Iqbal said he only dealt in cash. “Na koi cheque deta hai, na koi cheque leta hai, sab kaam paisa pe hota hai ( No one gives or takes cheques. All transactions are done in cash), Iqbal told the police.
While police were unable to find any bank accounts in his name, they did find the bank details of the two associates arrested with him.
“He had rented out two shops and a house in Mumbai. But he only accepted cash from the renters. We are also checking how he managed to change notes after demonetisation. It could either be through hawala or through some other channel,” a police source said.
Sources also said Iqbal claimed his family in Dubai and Pakistan had begun disliking him because of his addiction to drinking and drugs.
