166 ‘Hajis’ go missing in Saudi Arabia - Part Of Begging Racket?

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: As many as 166 pilgrims, who went to Saudi Arabia on pretext of Haj, are missing. These 166 are suspected to be Indian beggars who go to the holy city for begging in the guise of Haj pilgrims. Their mastermind, Sharful Haque, a resident of West Bengal, was arrested earlier by the Kolkata police.

The disappearance was reported to the Central Haj Committee of India when the 166 pilgrims did not report to the airport in Jeddah. “They are suspected to be beggars and part of a huge racket,” said Dr Shakir Husain, chief executive officer of the Central Haj Committee. He added there was no information about the whereabouts of the 166 pilgrims who belonged to Murshidabad in West Bengal.

“We have written to the head of the West Bengal Haj Committee, asking about the approval of these beggars’ applications. Our office has informed the chief secretary of West Bengal,” added Husain. Sources said the doctors who issued medical certificates to such beggars could be grilled during the police probe. An inquiry has begun in the Haj Committee of India. Husain said these beggars go do not even stay in the quarters allotted to Haj pilgrims in Mecca and Madinah. “It was the duty of the State Haj Committee to identify such people and stop them,” said Husain.

Three months ago, the Haj Committee officials found at least a dozen people who had used different photographs on the passports but their names were the same on the previous passports. Some of them had new passport numbers as well. “When a few beggars were detained in Saudi Arabia, they spilled the beans about the racket and mastermind Haque. The Council General passed on this information to the Haj Committee and Haque was arrested in Kolkata while trying to board a flight,” said sources.

BS Mubarak, Consul Haj in Jeddah, said whoever is identified staying in Saudi Arabia illegally is sent to their respective countries. “We have identified around 30 people who were involved in activities that are not fit for Haj pilgrims and sent them back to India.”

The Times of India, December 24, 2011

MLA’s ‘aide’ held for duping trader of 34L

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The L T Marg police on Thursday arrested a 39-yearold man for posing as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLA Bala Nandgaonkar’s personal assistant and cheating a diamond trader of over Rs34lakh.

The accused,Kailash Singh, told the complainant that the MLA’s daughter was getting married and he wanted to buy diamond jewellery. The MLA’s daughter is nine years’ old.

“Singh had worked with some jewellers and knew many of them. In this case, he approached one of his acquaintances, Naresh Jain, and told him that Nandgaonkar’s daughter was to marry and he wanted to buy some diamond ornaments for her. Jain took Singh to another diamond trader, Viman Jain, at Opera House. Viman gave diamond ornaments worth over Rs 2 crore. A few days later, Singh returned the jewellery except a diamond necklace worth Rs 28 lakh,” said the officer. He added that Singh later took diamond-studdedbanglesworthRs6.53lakh.

When Singh did not return, thetrader triedcalling him,but Singh did not pick up his calls. Later, Singh told him that Nandgaonkar was busy with the wedding and the payment would be made only after the ceremony.

Nandgaonkar said, “I don’t knowwho Singhis.Heis not my PA.Moreover,thetrader should have verified Singh’s credentials with me or the police before handing him over jewellery worthcroresof rupees.”

The Times of India, December 223, 2011

Fraudsters use ACP’s ID to buy SIM card

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: An assistant commissioner of police (ACP) recently found that his documents had been wrongly used for a cellphone connection. The officer, who is currently attached to the city crime branch’s computer and data wing, learnt about the fraud when a mobile bill was delivered at his residence.

“The bill amount (Rs 86) was not high. However, it’s a serious offence as someone used my documents to procure the SIM card,” the ACP who did not wish to be named said.

According to the officer, he received a call last month from a girl who identified herself as Sapna and informed him about some schemes on internet connection. “A few days later, someone came to my house and collected my photo and a copy of my identification proof. I paid Rs 500 to avail of the scheme,” said the ACP.

The bill showed that at least 63 calls were made till December 8. “The bill had my name and address printed on it. I called up on the number printed on the bill and found that it belonged to a businessman in Kandivli who identified himself as Kothari. He told me that he has been using the number and had submitted his documents,” the officer said.

Last year, the city police found that around 28,000 SIM cards, belonging to various mobile companies, were issued on fake documents.

The Times of India, December 22, 2011

Ishrat case: CBI team to visit Malegaon

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The CBI team probing the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case will soon visit Malegaon. After shooting Ishrat and three others, the Gujarat police in 2004 claimed that the 18-year-old along with another deceased had stayed at a Malegaon hotel and they were part of a Lashkar-e-Taiba module.

The Gujarat police had then said that Ishrat and another deceased Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai had stayed in Hotel Radhika where they hatched plans for anti-national activities. The police had alleged that those killed in the encounter were on a mission to eliminate Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

It will take some time to decide on the arrest of the suspects. “The special investigation team inquired into the case for almost two-and-ahalf years. We have got some papers from them. However, we have to start our investigation afresh and ascertain everyone’s role,” said a police source. “The initial documents are in Gujarati. We have to translate them to understand and then fix a direction for the investigation as per the evidence,” the officer said.

“First we have to see why the police personnel believed that Ishrat was a terrorist. Did they have any reliable information about her involvement anywhere? Once we get answers of all these questions, we will decide the further course of action,” the officer added.

The Times of India, December 21, 2011

Squad to tackle minorities’ plaints

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The Maharashtra police have formed special squads in all districts to deal with the minority community. The squads will compile reports on the minority community’s problems, alleged atrocities and pay more attention to its complaints.

State police sources said the squad will co-ordinate with the inspector (community) in all police stations in a district on a daily basis for complaints of harassment or atrocities. The squads, said sources, are now collecting reports of such cases. “These are being updated on a daily basis and will be sent to state police headquarters on a monthly basis,” said a police source. Police sources said the move follows repeated complaints of illegal detentions and harassment of suspects’ families. It is also learnt that the reports will be sent to the central government for reference since complainants at times approach the Union government as well. “These reports will then be forwarded to the state minorities commission,” said a policeman.

The special squad is also in charge of preparing reports on ill-treatment of children and women. “Though there are several helplines for children and women, this system will definitely benefit them,” said the officer.

In many cases, members of the minority community have alleged police atrocities. For instance, after the 13/7 blasts in the city this year, Faiz Usmani, a Govandi grocery shop owner detained by the crime branch, died in police custody. While police said he was suffering from blood pressure and other health-related problems, his wife alleged police torture. A state CID team is probing the case.

“Even during riot-like situations, the minority community complains of bias in maintaining law and order. Such complaints will be taken on record and a proper report will be compiled,” the source said. However, no decision has been taken regarding action against cops accused by the minority community.

The Times of India, December 19, 2011

Man held for cheating developer of 6.5cr

Rajshri Mehta & Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The economic offences wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police on Friday arrested Fortbased developer Homi Patrawala for allegedly duping suburban developer Ashok Mohanani of the Ekta Group of Rs 6.5 crore over the purchase of a bungalow plot at Khar. Police investigations revealed that Patrawala allegedly misrepresented the identity of the original plot owner and siphoned the money from the Fort branch of a co-operative bank.

In his complaint to the Kherwadi police, Mohanani said he was approached by Patrawala, owner, Snowgold Constructions Pvt Ltd, with an offer for a 202 sq m plot ‘Arun Bhavan’ belonging to one Sushila Jadhav (75) with whom he claimed to have signed a letter of intent to transfer and assign the property. In September, Mohanani reached an agreement with Patrawala, involving purchase of shares of Patrawala’s company for Rs 1.93 crore and paying Rs 6 crore when the property was transferred in his name.

A preoccupied Mohanani signed an agreement to sub-lease the property in April without the family being present, as Patrawala told him he had given the family a pay order for Rs 6 crore.

Patrawala kept delaying the registration of the deed, saying the Jadhavs wanted time to vacate. Mohanani happened to meet Jadhav and asked her what the issue was, and Jadhav said she had no agreement with Patrawala’s company. Worried, she filed a case against Mohanani, who then complained to joint police commissioner Himanshu Roy.

The Times of India, December 17, 2011

Group for legal aid to 11/ 7 suspects

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: After securing bail for the 2006 Malegaon blasts suspects, a Malegaonbased group is planning to provide legal assistance to suspects in the 11/7 train blasts and the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul cases.

“We believe that those arrested in the arms haul case have been framed by the police,” said advocate Irfana Hamdani, one of the legal cell members of the Kul-Jamaati Tanzeem.

“Several 11/7 train blasts accused asked us to provide legal help,” he added. T h e g r o u p was formed in 2006 after the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) picked up seven youngsters from Malegaon for allegedly executing four bomb blasts in the powerloom town.

In May 2006, the Maharashtra ATS claimed to have seized RDX, 16 AK-47 rifles, 3,200 live cartridges, 50 grenades and other ammunition near Aurangabad, Malegaon and Ankai village. The police arrested 21 people and said they belonged to the outlawed SIMI.

Similarly, the ATS probe into the 11/7 train blasts caseisfacing questions.The ATS arrested 13 persons alleging they belonged to SIMI and plantedseven bombs in local trains on July 11, 2006. However, two years later the Mumbai crime branch claimed the Indian Mujahideen was behind the blasts and arrested 21 suspected members.

The Times of India, December 16, 2011