Dawood's brother files nomination for Maharashtra polls

Iqbal Kaskar, alleged don Dawood Ibrahim's brother filed his nomination for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Wednesday.

Iqbal Kaskar, alleged don Dawood Ibrahim's brother, who was extradited to India from United Arab Emirates last year, filed his nomination for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Wednesday.

Kaskar filed his papers for the Umerkhadi constituency in southern Mumbai in the elections slated for Oct 13.

Dawood Ibrahim and his family were long time residents of this area and they still own a house in nearby Nagpada.

Until he had to leave the country in the 1980s, the Kaskars' writ ran in this area.

Police sources say, the Kaskars still wield some clout in the area and have been wooed by politicians in the past during election time.

The Bombay High Court ruled on Tuesday that Iqbal Kaskar might contest the elections.

It said Kaskar could contest the elections since he was not convicted in any case and the law barring criminals from contesting elections did not apply.

The law, however, does not permit Kaskar to come out of jail to campaign.

Should he win, he would be allowed out briefly to take the oath as a lawmaker.

He would have to obtain bail before being allowed to function normally.