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The Delhi Police has claimed that an assassination attempt on a prominent Delhi based businessman has been averted with the arrest of a man believed to be the aide of underworld don Ejaz Lakdawala.
Mohammad Yusuf, who was arrested today from Mukarba chowk in Delhi, was allegedly offered Rs 20 lakhs for attacking the businessman, say the police. "Yusuf was handling Lakdawala's operations in India. Three businessmen, two from Mumbai and one from Delhi, were on his radar" Ravinder Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police.
Yusuf was a part of a drug cartel operating in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. He was in touch with Punjab based drug dealer called Sonu, who was operating for Lakdawala.
At Lakdawala's behest, both - Yusuf and Sonu - have reportedly conducted a reconnaissance in Mumbai. Soon after Sonu was arrested by the Punjab police in connection with in connection with planning attacks on the businessmen.
Ejaz Lakdawal reportedly fell out of favour with Karachi-based don Dawood Ibrahim over his growing proximity with rival gangster Chhota Rajan.
In May 2003, he is believed to have escaped an attack by Dawood's gang members when they shot him in a crowded market of Bangkok.
Sources say, Lakdawala is currently believed to be controlling his operations out of North America.