Dawood's brother defies the don?

Mumbai: In an unprecedented development, underworld don and India's most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim's younger brother Mustakim has in all likelihood escaped from Karachi and fled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, say Mumbai police sources.

Sources reveal, the incident took place a fortnight ago and Dawood - accused of masterminding the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts where 257 people were killed - himself has made several efforts to pacify and convince his younger brother to return to Karachi. But Mustakim has refused to relent, even after Dawood's right hand Chhota Shakeel telephoned him, warning he returns immediately.

But why would Mustakim escape from his own brother? There are two theories. One: there are genuine differences - still unknown - between the two and hence the only option before Mustakim was to escape. Two: this is a ploy by the D-gang to fool investigators and facilitate Mustakim's entry into India. There are reports that Mustakim, who has no criminal record, has been eagerly looking forward to return to Mumbai.

There have been reports that suggest the Pakistani establishment has been pressurising Dawood to send back his family members back to India, especially after the US declared in 2009 that Dawood was a global terrorist.

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But what does Mustakim bring on the table and can his return help India nab Dawood? The Mumbai police were unable to make the most when Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaskar was extradited from Dubai in 2003. He was booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act and tried in the Sara Sahara shopping mall case. But he was acquitted and lives now at the Ibrahim residence at Pakmodia Street.

However, Mustakim could bring with him Dawood's latest whereabouts in Pakistan. India believes he lives in Karachi and investigating agencies have zeroed in on two addresses: House No 37 on 30th Defence Housing Authority and White House on Clifton Road. The Pakistani government continues to deny his existence in their country.

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But more importantly, Mustakim could provide vital leads into the D-gang's narcotics and hawala business which fund his terror network.