Mumbai: Two brothers arrested, NIA says they are members of Dawood’s gang

The agency claimed that the two were members of Dawood’s gang D Company and a “huge amount” of money and incriminating evidence have been recovered from them. It alleged that the accused were receiving money from Dawood’s associate Chhota Shakeel “to instigate terror” and were planning to target politicians.

The NIA alleged that investigation had led it to witnesses who are related to hawala transactions, linking the Shaikh brothers to D Company, specifically Shakeel. The agency said that cellphone handsets of the accused, which have been seized, were used to communicate with the gang’s members. It added that the gang, including Dawood and Shakeel, is involved in global terrorism and investigation was required to trace their whereabouts.

The NIA had February booked Dawood and others on charges of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act. On Friday, it arrested Arif and Shabbir claiming that they were involved in activities of the gang in the western suburbs of Mumbai. They have also been booked under of UAPA.

The two were produced before the special court in the afternoon. When asked by the court, if they had any complaints of ill-treatment at the hands of the NIA, they said “no”.

“Koi complaint nahi hai. Bas kehna hai ki humein iss desh se bohot pyaar hai. Saare jahaan se accha Hindustaan humaara,” Arif told the court.

Arif, better known as Arif Bhaijaan, is Shakeel’s brother-in-law. He was married to Shakeel’s sister Fehmida, who passed away in May 2020. In 2016, he was arrested by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch on charges of extortion.

Also, he, along with nine others, was deported to India from Dubai in 2006 in connection with the 2003 murder of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya. Arif was, however, eventually discharged in the case.

Arif and Shabbir, who were not legally represented before the court, were asked by the judge if their families have been informed and if they wanted to engage a lawyer. The brothers said that their families have been informed about their arrest and they wanted a lawyer.

The court then directed that a lawyer from the legal aid panel be engaged for them and sent the brothers to NIA custody till May 20.

A lawyer from the panel, Apeksha Vora, appeared before the court subsequently. She opposed the NIA’s remand stating that the custody of the brothers was not needed. Vora said that their custody was sought on grounds, including to find the location of Dawood and Shakeel, but that could be done through Interpol.

She also said that mere contention that the money they received was to instigate terror and target politicians was not enough to charge them in absence of any documentary proof.

Special Judge Rahul Bhosale said that tracing the gangsters is one aspect of the probe. “But material aspect is to dig out the relation of the current accused persons with those gangsters and the alleged D company,” the court said.