Dawood aide brought from UAE only to walk free

Reason: the Mumbai police were unable to put together a chargesheet against him within the 90-day deadline. On August 29, criticising the failure of the police, Metropolitan Magistrate R D Ghate granted Siddiqui bail against Rs 25,000 in cash.

Police officials are passing the buck. Speaking to The Indian Express, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pradip Sawant confirmed Siddiqui’s release on bail but all he had to say was: ‘‘I still have not gone through the court’s order.’’

When asked why the chargesheet couldn’t be prepared on time, police chief R S Sharma said: ‘‘Ask Joint Commissioner (Crime) Satyapal Singh.’’

Despite several attempts, Singh was not available for comment.

As per Siddiqui’s remand application, he was accused of a double murder on Hill Road in Bandra (west) on November 4, 1996.

According to the police, Siddiqui and the victims—Noorul Haq Ansari and his son Nasrool Ansari—were partners in a Mumbai shop selling foreign goods. There was a falling out and the Ansaris could not return Rs 1.20 lakh they owed Siddiqui.

So he, police said, called up Dawood’s brother Noora and Abu Salem and had them bumped off. When police began the probe, Siddiqui fled to Dubai where he joined hands with Noora and graduated to gold smuggling.

On January 20, he was arrested along with one Rajiv Sharma alias Chikna after Dawood’s close associate Sharad Shetty was gunned down. UAE authorities kept him in their custody for more than two months before deporting him on May 29.

This is not a stray case. Earlier, Ashliya Asla Khan alias Bharti who was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in 2001 for allegedly circulating fake Indian currency notes, had to be released for the very same reason. No chargesheet.