D-gang crackdown: Humayun Merchant arrested following Republic exposé

Update at 14:15

Humayun Merchant to be produced before court by 2.45pm, according to sources. He was previously supposed to be produced in front of a Mumbai court at 1 PM.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested a close aide and power of attorney of Iqbal Mirchi - Humayun Merchant on Tuesday. Merchant is considered to be the go-to person for Iqbal Mirchi’s real estate business. The arrest comes days after Republic TV exposed the link between Iqbal Mirchi and a company called Sunblink Real Estate Private Limited.

WATCH | EXCLUSIVE: Papers showing Sunblink-D-Gang's associate links accessed 

Humayun-Mirchi links

Agency sources say Humayun received orders from Mirchi which was faithfully executed by him. From land dealings to negotiations with tenants and developers, all of this was done by Humayun Merchant. In fact in the case of three properties – Sea View, Marium Lodge and Rabia Mansion – which were handed over to Iqbal Mirchi by Sir Mohammad Yusuf Trust, Merchant replaced the initial tenants with Mirchi’s relatives and close associates.

READ | Sunblink paid Iqbal Mirchi's close aide Humayun Merchant. Key details

According to the agency, Merchant had approached Jayant Soni of Joy Home Creation Pvt Limited to develop the three properties for Mirchi. He assured Soni that these properties are free from the attachment of the government and that all the tenants are his own people. In fact, Merchant had arranged for a meeting between Jayant Soni and Iqbal Mirchi in London.

SEE THE SIGN! NCP-Dawood Gang 'business link' OUT; all documents here

ED investigation into D-gang

Republic TV investigation also revealed how Merchant was receiving funds from Sunblink Real Estate Pvt Ltd. The channel’s investigation reveals that Sunblink is a company that was handling Mirchi’s properties and was receiving funds from a financial giant like DHFL. In fact, company documents accessed by Republic TV show DHFL received unsecured loans of Rs 141, 306,394. The same company document shows that Humayun Merchant received Rs 50,000,000 from Sunblink as an advance for land.

WATCH \ STING IMPACT: ED searches at 8 locations including DHFL premises