With the arrest of a key henchman of Mumbai-based fugitive gangster Ejaz Lakdawala, Delhi Police today thwarted his alleged bid to eliminate three businessmen, including one in NCR, and spread his empire in North India.
Lakdawala, who once was a close aid of Dawood Ibrahim operates from abroad and a red corner notice has been issued against him.
The accused, identified as Mohammed Yusuf alias Miyan, was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on March 18. Owner of a well-known footwear company, based in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, owner of a premier food-chain in Mumbai and a builder were on the hit list of Lakdawala for which Yusuf had roped in Punjab-based sharp shooters.
"Yusuf was the main handler of Lakdawala's network for northern India. He was based in Western UP while the sharp shooters were sourced from Punjab, and he has been arrested from Delhi. One pistol and two live cartridges have been recovered from his possession," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav.
According to police, Lakdawala, was earlier associate of Dawood Ibrahim. However, later on he became a close associate of Chota Rajan. Subsequently, he also parted ways with Chota Rajan after there was an attack on him in Bangkok and set up his own underworld network. In May 2004, he was arrested by the Canadian Police in Ottawa. Presently, he is supposed to be somewhere in North America, although he frequently changes his locations to South East Asia as well.
Police had received a tip off that Lakadawala was trying to extend his tentacles to Northern India and his handler was based in Western UP.
"On March 18, specific information was received that the handler would come to Mukarba Chowk, Delhi to meet his associate. On this information, a trap was laid and Yousuf was arrested," said Yadav.
During interrogation, it was revealed that Yusuf began his criminal career in the year 2005 as a drug trafficker and a gun runner. In this trade, he came in contact with criminal elements of Punjab engaged in the same activity.
In 2014, he came in contact with Ejaz Lakdawala's henchmen in Mumbai. Through them, he came in contact with Ejaz Lakdawala who is probably based somewhere in North America though he keeps shifting bases. Yusuf remained in contact with him through Voice over Internet Protocol Calling (VOIP) and several international numbers of different countries spread over nearly all continents, said Yadav.
"Lakdawala was tasked to arrange for sharp shooters. Since, he was in close contact with criminal elements in Punjab, he roped in one Sonu alias Rajender who has eight criminal involvements in Punjab pertaining to drug trafficking, robbery and extortion.
