Pradeep Sharma goes to Delhi with ‘intel on Dawood’

Sharma, who arrested Kaskar in an extortion case earlier this week, mysteriously disappeared on Friday, raising curiosity over the purpose of his visit to the national capital

A day after Iqbal Kaskar, the younger brother of Dawood Ibrahim, told police that the underworld don was in Pakistan, anti-extortion cell chief Pradeep Sharma flew to Delhi.

Although senior Thane police officers sought to downplay Sharma’s absence, saying he had taken a day’s leave and flown to the Delhi for “personal” reasons, sources said the purpose of the visit was “strictly official”.

Sharma, who arrested Kaskar in an extortion case earlier this week, mysteriously disappeared on Friday, raising curiosity over the purpose of his visit to the national capital.

Although senior Thane police officers sought to downplay Sharma’s absence, saying he had taken a day’s leave and flown to the Delhi for “personal” reasons, sources said the purpose of the visit was “strictly official”.

“Sharma may have flown to Delhi to submit details about Dawood that the Thane police have so far managed to get out of Kaskar,” said a source, adding that Sharma was carrying with him coordinates of Dawood’s location and his property details. He would be sharing the details with key officials in the central intelligence agencies.

According to sources, the evidence includes details about four bungalows in the Clifton area of Karachi where Dawood, his brothers and their families live, and the address of a Karachi shopping mall owned by the family. There are also travel details of Dawood over the years, as revealed by Iqbal.

A senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, admitted that the Thane police are in “close touch” with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and are updating the central agency about the progress made in Kaskar’s interrogation.