Iqbal Kaskar case: Police to check if Rs90 lakh was used to fund terror group

According to the police, Pankaj Gangar, a gambling den owner (matka king), who was arrested in connection with the Kaskar case, was in direct touch with Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel over the phone and through VOIP calls.

The Thane police are checking if the Rs90 lakh, which gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar allegedly extorted from various builders in the city, was used to fund a terror group.

According to the police, Pankaj Gangar, a gambling den owner (matka king), who was arrested in connection with the Kaskar case, was in direct touch with Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel over the phone and through VOIP calls. (FILE)

According to the police, Pankaj Gangar, a gambling den owner (matka king), who was arrested in connection with the Kaskar case, was in direct touch with Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel over the phone and through VOIP calls.

“We are also checking if people from other country are involved in the racket. We suspect they have extorted around Rs90 lakh, which they might have used to fund some terror group, with the help of Dawood,” said a source close to the investigation.

The Thane police have slapped MCOCA against seven people – Kaskar, 52, Gangar, 54, Mumtaz Shaikh,48, and Israr Sayyed,57, Chhota Shakeel (brother of Dawood Ibrahim), and two shooters Shammi and Guddu – for running an extortion racket. Of these, Dawood, Shakeel, Shammi and Guddu are wanted, while others have been arrested.

“We are looking at the terror angle. We are also talking to local builders and political party leaders,” said a police officer.