Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Tuesday said that an Interpol notice has been issued against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, but unless Pakistan deports him, India will not be able to arrest the him due to the absence of an extradition treaty with the neighbouring country.
Nikam also said it was imperative to know Ibarhim's whereabouts and the authenticity of the information.
"Dawood Ibrahim is the most wanted criminal at present and many countries are trying to search for him... We have already issued an Interpol notice but it is not yet served on him because he is avoiding his arrest. And since we do not have any extradition treaty with Pakistan, it is very difficult to bring him back. Unless Pakistan decides to deport him, we are helpless," Nikam said.
"I think it is first necessary to find out where he is hiding and verify the authenticity of the information. And once we will find it, then through Interpol, we can easily bring him to justice," he added.
Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary informed the Parliament that Ibrahim's whereabouts are unknown and an extradition process can only be initiated after he is located, contradicting a statement given by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who had assured that the government would take appropriate action to nab the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
According to reports, the gangster's last traced location was Karachi and he used to travel to Dubai, but after an Interpol notice was issued against him, he stopped.