Dawood empire: Local cops under scanner

Bengaluru, July 11: It would not be a lie if one says that Dawood Ibrahim's network in India thrived due to the numerous local contacts he had. There have been at least three attempts in the past ten years to nab the don that have failed as he has always managed to get advanced information.

The Intelligence Bureau has now put under surveillance a list of suspected politicians, police officials and also locals who have been responsible for sharing information with the Karachi based don.

Operations against Dawood Ibrahim have failed for various reasons and one of the primary ones was the leak of advance information an IB official says.

Meetings, calls being monitored:

The IB says that it has prepared a list of usual suspects who could be leaking information to the don who is also an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. Earlier information was being leaked directly and later on it was being done through sources, the IB officer pointed out.

There was a time when he had advance information about the positioning of security agencies who were monitoring his boats which were used for smuggling. There have been instances when he has either pulled out of an operation or diverted the boat and this was a clear indicator about him having information much in advance.

He was being handed out information not only about police or intelligence operations, but also about political decisions. He ran his empire in India based on the free flow of information that he received from India. The IB has however decided that it would put on very high surveillance such persons who are suspected to be leaking information to Dawood or his gang members. The officer also noted that they also have a list of some Bollywood personalities who are close to the D gang and could be handing out information.

Delhi was skeptical to share information:

A former officer with the Research and Analysis Wing noted with dismay that information sharing from the central intelligence circles to the Mumbai police in particular had stopped for a long time over the Dawood Ibrahim issue. There were a couple of instances where the IB and the R&AW felt terribly let down.

There was one such operation which took months of planning and a small team from Delhi had been set up to nab Dawood. However it was a constable in Mumbai whose assistance was sought for the operation who ended up leaking the information to the don. This leak alerted Dawood, the office also noted. During his stint in Mumbai he set up contacts with various politicians, bureaucrats and also police personnel. He continued to nurture them for a long time which helped him continue with his business in full flow despite not being in India.

OneIndia News