Thailand court rejects plea to extradite Chhota Shakeel’s aide

In a setback for investigating agencies, an appeal court in Thailand rejected India’s plea, seeking the extradition of Sayyad Muzakkir Muddasar Hussain alias Munna

In a setback for investigating agencies, an appeal court in Thailand rejected India’s plea, seeking the extradition of Sayyad Muzakkir Muddasar Hussain alias Munna Jhingada, a key aide of gangster Chhota Shakeel.

HT Image

Jhingada, who is in a Thailand jail since 2002 for allegedly attempting to murder another gangster, Chhota Rajan, in Bangkok in 2000, is set to walk free, after Pakistani agencies claimed before the court that he is their citizen. A senior IPS officer, confirming the development, said, “We sought Jhingada’s custody on the ground that he’s an Indian citizen, but the court’s order came in negative.”

Mumbai crime branch had submitted details of Jhingada’s parents, residing in a slum in Jogeshwari, along with his college-leaving certificate to the court. However, Jhingada claimed that the finger prints were taken forcibly by the crime branch officers after his arrest in Bangkok. He had also cited 12 Pakistani witnesses to support his claim. “We had submitted Jhingada’s DNA and fingerprints registered with the Jogeshwari police to the court. However, Pakistan stated that Jhingada was a Pakistani citizen, Mohammed Salim, as he was caught with a Pakistani passport containing the same name. Pakistan also provided Jhingada’s birth certificate, medical records and school certificates of his children, along with their birth records to the court to prove his citizenship. The Thai court accepted Pakistan’s plea and will free him from jail,” said a police officer.The crime branch will present a fresh dossier to Thai authorities again.