Mirchi extradition uphill task,say Mumbai cops

On Tuesday,the CBI confirmed that Mirchi had been arrested in London.

Mumbai Police officers feel that getting Dawood Ibrahim8217;s close aide Iqbal Memon,alias Iqbal Mirchi,extradited from Britain would prove difficult,as the cases for which he is wanted are at least 20 years old or more. Compiling exhaustive details of these cases while building a dossier to press for Mirchi8217;s extradition could pose problems,they conceded.

On Tuesday,the CBI confirmed that Mirchi had been arrested in London. CBI on Wednesday said they have sought details regarding the cases against Mirchi from Mumbai Police. Mirchi 60 was declared a proclaimed offender by the government in 1994.

In response to a question,the official spokesperson at MEA said,8221;A red corner notice for the arrest of Mirchi had been issued and continues to be valid,which means that he is a wanted person and that we do seek his extradition. The processes involved for his extradition are being initiated.8221;

8220;We have asked the CBI Interpol wing to obtain custody of Iqbal Mirchi and hand him over to us,8221; said Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil. 8220;There are 12 serious criminal cases against Iqbal Mirchi registered in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra,8221; Patil said.

Joint Commissioner of Police Himanshu Roy said a dossier was being prepared on Mirchi,and the process of seeking his extradition would begin once official confirmation of his arrest was received.

8220;We have been unofficialy informed that Iqbal Mirchi has been detained by the UK police. We are not aware of the charges,but we have requested the Interpol to provide us details. Mirchi has several cases pending against him in Mumbai including murder,attempt to murder,and cases under the NDPS Act,8221; said Roy.

According to sources,a preliminary scrutiny of Mirchi8217;s record has revealed that there are at least two murder cases,three of attempt to murder,four of threatening and extortion,and three NDPS cases for which he is wanted.

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A senior Mumbai Police officer,however,said,8221;It could prove extremely difficult to extradite Mirchi. The cases against him date back to 1984 or earlier. The last case in which he was wanted took place in 1995. Getting all the details of these cases would be a very difficult task,as there are many problems involved. For instance,the investigating officers in these cases may have retired,or might not recall nitty gritties. Witnesses may have changed their location,or died.8221;

Under the terms of the extradition treaty between the two countries,the offence under which extradition is sought should be an offence in both nations. It should be an offence punishable with a sentence of more than seven years,and the evidence available in the case should be strong.