New Delhi: The controversy over underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's whereabouts continues to haunt the government. After uproar in Parliament over the issue on Thursday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh conceded to the Opposition's demand for a clarification. Singh is likely to give a statement in the House on the issue.
The government has been left red-faced after MoS Home Haribhai Chaudhary said in Parliament that there is no information about Dawood's whereabouts. His statement came even as successive governments have asserted that India's most wanted is in Pakistan. Chaudhary also added that the extradition proceedings could be initiated only when Dawood is located.
Forced to clarify its stand, the government accepted that Dawood is in Pakistan.
According to sources in Pakistan government, India has not asked Pakistan to extradite Dawood Ibrahim.
Dawood has been absconding for more than two decades and even though India claims he is being shielded by Pakistan on its soil, there has been very little forward movement to track and nab him.
Chaudhary's statement contradicts Rajnath Singh's remarks in December 2014 when he said that action will be taken to bring Dawood back to India.
Even former Intelligence Bureau director Rajendra Kumar maintained a different view from that of the government and claimed that Dawood is still hiding in Pakistan.
"We should continue to put pressure on Pakistan over Dawood issue. There is no question of him going out of Pakistan. At times the government has to say things like this. Government at times cannot declare his whereabouts openly. He must be in Pakistan. He is a designated international terrorist. He is moved by ISI from one place to another time to time in Pakistan," said Kumar who tracked Dawood in Pakistan.
Former Home Secretary GK Pillai also supported Kumar and said that Dawood is in Pakistan. "He keeps moving. He does not stay at one place all the time. His two addresses in Pakistan are known, it was communicated to Pakistan as well,' he said.
According to sources, Dawood was last traced to Karachi and used to travel to Dubai, but stopped after an Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against him. Sources also said that the Pakistan government does not want to hand him to India as he may divulge details of his operations with its intelligence agency ISI.
Dawood is accused by India of being the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. On March 12, 1993, the city of Mumbai was rocked by 13 explosions in different parts of the city. It resulted in 257 fatalities and over 700 were injured.
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