Bookie’s aide says ex-minister was my guest in Dubai

Nihalchandani, in his statement to the Mumbai police on Wednesday, said Kathiria went to Dubai at his invitation to inaugurate a foreign exchange firm in which his brother-in-law Lalchand — an acquaintance of Kathiria — was a partner.

He reportedly also revealed that the trip of the former minister, who was accompanied by family, was funded by him.

Sources in Mumbai Crime branch confirmed that Sindhi had named Kathiria as one of the several influential persons he had links with. He said on April 29, he and Kathiria had travelled on the same flight to Dubai where the BJP MP had opened Aziz Exchange Company. Besides Sindhi’s brother-in-law, Abdul Rehman Ali Abdul Rehman and Purshottam Bhatia were partners in the firm.

Mumbai Crime Branch officials investigating bookie Shoban Mehta’s alleged links, which led to Sindhi’s arrest late last week, say Sindhi revealed the Kathiria connection only during ‘‘intensive questioning’’.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mira Borwankar admitted that Sindhi had not revealed Kathiria’s name when she questioned him. ‘‘What we are interested in is organised crime and not in any political or other links of the accused,’’ she said. But a subordinate officer in her office confirmed that Kathiria’s name had cropped up during Sindhi’s questioning and that it was difficult to say if it had any connection with Sindhi’s or Mehta’s betting business as ‘‘investigations were on.’’

Crime Branch sources also told Express that they were in possession of tapes of telephonic conversations of Mehta and Sindhi in which Kathiria’s name figured, but added that they did not reveal his links with the bookies.

‘‘Criminals usually resort to such tactics like naming well-known persons when they find themselves confronted during questioning,’’ said a Crime Branch official.

No connection, says Kathiria

Denying the charges, former Union minister Dr Vallabh Kathiria said he met Sindhi for the first time at Dubai airport. ‘‘I did inaugurate a money exchange office for his brother-in-law Lalchand. But I had gone to Dubai with my family at my own expense, I did not go with Sindhi. Many Indians had come to receive me and my family at Dubai airport,’’ Kathiria said.

‘‘I had no idea that Sindhi is a bookie. I came to know of his background through newspaper reports after his arrest,’’ he told Express. Saying that he had not taken any favours during his three-day tour, Kathiria said he was introduced to the man over the telephone by former MP M R Patil. ‘‘But,’’ he said, ‘‘I stayed at the house of my friend from Porbandar.’’