D-gang's footprints in several countries: Probe

Mumbai: Fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s operations are not only in Pakistan and Dubai but have spread across various other countries. Dawood’s gang has investments and business interests in several other countries, including Nepal and China, according to the Thane crime branch that is conducting a probe into his gang’s alleged extortion activities.    

The investigators claimed that the businesses are spread out across Bangkok, Singapore, South Africa, Nepal, and Hong Kong. This has come to the fore during the investigation into the extortion cases. The police also claimed that Dawood’s close aide Chhota Shakeel, the main operator of the D-gang, visits these places frequently allegedly using fake passports.

“There are records of calls made overseas and received by Iqbal Kaskar and Pankaj Gangar (matka operator). They are not revealing much about the identities of the persons they were in touch with. However, they have shared some information about investments in these countries,” said a Thane crime branch officer.

When asked if the gang’s extortion rackets in Mumbai and Thane region was also fueling their overseas activities, the officials said that needs to be verified.

The investigation by the Thane police has revealed till date that Gangar was funding '15 lakh to D-gang every month. The money would be sent via illegal hawala channel. Subsequently the anti-extortion cell (AEC) of Thane crime branch, which is investigating the cases, also learnt that Gangar was also investing in real estate in Thane region and also in some other states on behalf of the gang.