Mumbai:
Seeking custody of Dawood Ibrahim's close aide Iqbal Mirchi, the Maharashtra Government has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) Interpol wing to obtain custody of gangster Iqbal Mirchi, arrested in London on Tuesday.
"We have asked the CBI Interpol wing to obtain custody of Iqbal Mirchi and hand him over to us," said Home Minister RR Patil.
Iqbal Memon alias Iqbal Mirchi, is considered to be the right-hand man of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
"There are 12 serious criminal cases against Iqbal Mirchi registered in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra," Mr. Patil said.
The 61-year-old Memon, against whom an Interpol Red Corner Notice was pending since 1994, is wanted by the Mumbai police in connection with cases related to drug peddling and the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
CBI sources said the UK police would be approached through the Interpol and diplomatic channels to seek his extradition or deportation to India.
Iqbal Mirchi began his career in the underworld as a smuggler and became a big player in drug peddling around mid-1980s.
After his escape from Mumbai, he is alleged to have been dividing his time between Dubai and London.
He was earlier detained in London but the UK authorities had turned down India's request for extradition at that point of time.
However, this time, the sources said, they were hopeful of making headway with more evidence against him that will be provided by the Mumbai police.