The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday morning began grilling the owner of Manikchand Gutka, Rasiklal Manikchand Dhariwal, for his alleged nexus with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Dhariwal appeared at the CBI headquarters in Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, at 1030 IST, as directed by the Supreme Court.
"We can confirm to you that Dhariwal has appeared before us and he is now being questioned by our investigating team," G Mohanty, spokesman for the CBI, told rediff.com.
Dhariwal had approached the Supreme Court for an anticipatory bail in the case, which was registered by the Mumbai police, but was later transferred to the CBI by the Maharashtra government.
But the court had directed him to surrender before the CBI on April 4. Dhariwal, who was in Dubai, flew back to India on April 2.
Besides Dhariwal, Goa gutka owner J M Joshi has also been accused of having links with the underworld. A Mumbai court had issued non-bailable warrants against the two in the case.
Both Dhariwal and Joshi have denied links with Dawood or Anees Ibrahim. "I would tell CBI everything," Dhariwal had promised on his arrival in Pune.
The CBI has registered a case against four persons, including Anees Ibrahim, brother of Dawood Ibrahim, for allegedly smuggling gutka manufacturing machinery to Karachi and for extortion. The cases were registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.