Witness threatened in Dawood's extortion case

Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court directed the accused, Abdul Rehman, to file a reply on June 19.

A witness in an extortion and land grabbing case, involving Dawood Ibrahim and his brother Iqbal Kaskar, has complained to a special court that he was threatened by an accused, asking him not to depose in the case.

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Taking serious note of the allegation made by the witness, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court directed the accused, Abdul Rehman, to file a reply on June 19.

The witness told the court on Thursday that on June 13 he had gone to JJ Hospital to meet his wife, who is undergoing treatment there.

He alleged that accused Abdul Rehman, who was also brought to the hospital for check up, threatened him not to depose in the case.

Taking his statement on record, Judge MR Bhatkar issued notice to the accused asking him for explanation.

The case pertains to illegal construction of "Sara-Sahara" business complex allegedly by Dawood Ibrahim and his brother Iqbal to divert unaccounted money into real estate.

Iqbal, his aide Tariq Parveen, three engineers of BMC and two property developers are facing the trial. In the chargesheet filed by police, Dawood has been shown as absconding accused.

Iqbal and Parveen were deported from Dubai last year to face trial.