Dawood Ibrahim's close aide Farooq Takla charge sheeted in passport forgery case

CBI has charge sheeted international terrorist Dawood Ibrahim's close aide Farooq Takla in a case of forgery in passport, which was used by him to escape law under a false identity after 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, officials said.

Mohammed Farooq alias Farooq Takla (58) was nabbed at Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi on March 8, 2018, when he arrived in an Air India flight from Dubai. operation is believed to have been carried out by central security ncies, sources said.

He was carrying a passport (Number J6435628) issued in name of Mushtaq Mohammed Mian at time of his arrest, y said.

Farooq had assumed identity of Mushtaq in 1991 when he provided false information to get a passport in this name from Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Mumbai, according to CBI charge sheet filed recently before a special court in Mumbai.

He allegedly used this identity to reside in Dubai and or gulf cities while he allegedly worked for Ibrahim and helped him with logistics for carrying out 1993 Mumbai blasts, officials said.

y said after blasts, an Interpol Red Corner tice (Number A-385/7-1995) was issued against Farooq in 1995 to enable his arrest but a fake passport allegedly helped him escape clutches of law.

In 2001, he had approached Consulate General of India in Dubai to renew his passport, charge sheet claimed.

Based on forged information provided by him, consulate general in Dubai had issued a passport number Z1312046, which was valid till July 2, 2002, it said.

In 2011, Farooq was again issued a passport J6435628 by consulate general. He was travelling on this passport number when he was arrested by ncies in Delhi, charge sheet said.

He is in judicial custody at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai since his arrest under stringent Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

serial blasts cases are being tried under this law. 

CBI had registered a case of passport forgery against him under Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to cheating and violation of Passport Act on March 28 last year.

After completing probe in passport case, CBI has filed a charge sheet in court of additional chief magistrate, Mumbai.

It is alleged that Farooq was a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim and Anees Ibrahim, and an active conspirator behind 1993 mayhem at nerve centres of Mumbai which shook entire country.

serial blasts at iconic places of Mumbai had claimed 257 lives and injured over 700.

ncy has already charged Farooq for blasts under TADA provisions in its charge sheet filed in August 2018.

ncy had taken over investigation in bombings from Bombay (w Mumbai) Police on vember 19, 1993. 

police had filed a charge sheet on vember 4, 1993, in which Farooq, accused number 196, was listed as one of 44 absconders.  

Farooq, n a resident of Shaikh Burhan Kamruddin Street, mand air tickets, accommodation, and briefing for five accused who had travelled to Pakistan via Dubai for getting training in handling of arms, ammunition and explosives, which were used in blasts, CBI has alleged in its charge sheet.

He allegedly received Saleem Bismillah Khan alias Saleem Kurla (w dead) and four ors -- Mohammed Haneef Mohammed Usman Sheikh, Sheikh Abraham Sheikh Hussain, Usman Khan and Mohammed Sayeed Ishaq -- in Dubai, charge sheet alleged.

Farooq funded ir travel and accommodation and briefed m about ir steps to visit Pakistan for training and return to Mumbai, CBI has alleged.

After completion of training, it was Farooq's responsibility to take m to Karachi airport and bring m to Dubai without any stamp on ir passports with help of Pakistan's espion ncy ISI, Mumbai Police officials who probed case have alleged.

Because of this, investigators of Mumbai Police were t able to collect evidence of movement of men from Dubai to Karachi for training purpose, y said. PTI ABS ANB

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