UK court denies bail to Dawood aide Jabir Motiwala

London, Aug 21: A UK court on Tuesday denied bail to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's key aide Jabir Motiwala. Motiwala, an Indian-origin accomplice of Ibrahim, was arrested by Metropolitan police's extradition unit last week. The bail was denied by London's Westminster Magistrate's Court today (August 21).

Motiwala is a key figure in the Dawood syndicate and managed his investments in UAE and UK. He was also instrumental in moving dirty money of the syndicate and the agencies suspect that the same was used to fund a series of nefarious activities, including terrorism.

The Met police said Motiwala was arrested in relation to an allegation of conspiracy to commit blackmail, import Class A drugs and money laundering in US after a warrant had been issued by Westminster magistrates' court. This followed a request to extradite him by US government, reported TOI.

India had on the basis of its investigations made two requests to the UK to arrest Moti, who has been on the radar for long. The arrest was made in the nick of time as Moti was planning to move out of the UK. He holds a ten year visa in the UK and was planning on moving to Antigua as the heat on him had risen.

51-year-old Motiwala was arrested by the Met Police at a hotel in Paddington area of London last Friday. He was produced at Westminster Magistrates' Court in the city the same day, where he was remanded in custody to appear again on Tuesday.