Dawood aide arrested by Goa police

GOA, JUNE 8: Mohammed Asif Abdul Shaikh, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim was arrested by CID Crime branch of Goa police on Wednesday and handed over to the Mumbai police the same day.

Shaikh is suspected to be involved in the murder of Shiv Sena branch chief Shivaji Chawan at Goregaon last month. Shaikh, 32, a resident of Kurla, was arrested at Carmona village, in Salcete Taluka. Cash worth Rupees twenty-five thousand was recovered from his person. The money was supposedly given to him as a `supari’ amount by Raju bhai, a close accomplice of Dawood, to eliminate Chavan. Shaikh admitted during interrogation that the amount along with a revolver and large number of rounds were delivered to him at his residence at Kurla by a gang member of Dawood. The same was seized by Mumbai police during a raid on his residence and his younger brother Imran Shaikh was arrested at the time.

On knowing of his brother’s arrest, Asif fled to Pune and landed in Goa by bus on the 25th May. He wanted to flee to Dubai on receiving his passport. However, he was arrested by Goa police before it could reach him. Goa police on a tip off from Mumbai police and Intelligence agencies, were on Shaikh’s track for about a week and finally traced him at the residence of one Tony D’Cruz, whose sister is the mother-in-law of the accused.

While briefing the press, Goa police said Asif was working as per the directions of Raju Bhai, based in Dubai, who is supposed to be working for Dawood. The gang was involved in kidnapping, murders and extortions, in Mumbai.