The Maharashtra government has asked the CBI's Interpol wing to obtain the custody of gangster Iqbal Mirchi,held in London. We have asked the CBI Interpol wing to obtain custody of Iqbal Mirchi and hand him over to us, Home Minister R R Patil told PTI. Iqbal Memon alias Iqbal Mirchi,considered to be the right-hand man of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim,was arrested in the UK yesterday. There are 12 serious criminal cases against Iqbal Mirchi registered in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra, Patil said. 61-year-old Memon,against whom an Interpol Red Corner Notice is pending since 1994,is wanted by Mumbai police in connection with cases related to drug peddling and the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. CBI sources said the UK police would be approached through the Interpol and other diplomatic channels to seek his extradition or deportation to India. Iqbal Mirchi began his career in the underworld as a smuggler and became a big player in drug peddling around mid-1980s. After his escape from Mumbai,he is alleged to have been dividing his time between Dubai and London. He was earlier detained in London but the UK authorities had turned down India's request for extradition at that point of time. However,this time,the sources said,they were hopeful of making a headway with more evidence against him that will be provided by the Mumbai police. Dawood aide Mirchi owns huge bungalow in Bhopal Bhopal: Gangster Iqbal Mirchi owns a sprawling bungalow on the banks of the Upper Lake in the city and its estimated market value is close to Rs 10 crore. The bungalow,known as the Angrezan Bungalow,is located on plot 18 in the Nadir Colony on an area of 10,000 sq ft. It has been lying vacant for the last couple of years. The windows and doors are in a broken condition and people rarely enter this house. The Supreme Court had in an order in 2004-05 attached this bungalow. An official of the central Excise Department said an attempt was made to auction the bungalow in 2007 when a person from Mumbai wanted to purchase it for Rs 2.5 crore and had even deposited Rs. 10 lakh for the purpose. Another party had also evinced interest in the bungalow but the matter was later handed over to the Finance Ministry. The body of Anil Sharma alias Abdullah of the underworld who was an accused in the murder of T-Series owner Gulshan Kumar was found here on March 11,1998. Iqbal Memon alias 'Iqbal Mirchi',considered to be the right-hand man of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim,was arrested in the UK yesterday.
