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Nagma denies underworld links

By Vijay Singh in Mumbai
February 15, 2005 14:54 IST

Actress Nagma on Monday denied she has any links with the underworld.

In a statement recorded late last year before Deputy Commissioner of Police Amitabh Gupta, Jamiruddin aka Jumbo, a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act detainee, had said he was directed by Anees Ibrahim, the Karachi-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's brother, to hand over Rs 10 lakh to Nagma at her Carter Road residence in suburban Bandra in Mumbai.

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"I don't have any relationship with anyone as reported in the media. It could be a case of mistaken identity," Nagma told rediff.com.

The Mumbai police had arrested Jumbo and Rajesh Panchariya in October 2004 for procuring five gutka packaging machines for Anees.

The machines were smuggled out to Dubai and thence to Pakistan.

In his confessional, Jumbo had said that he used to work for Anees, while Panchariya said he was related to J M Joshi, the owner of Goa gutka.

The Mumbai police have issued non-bailable warrants against Joshi and his one-time business partner, Rasiklal Dhariwal of the Manikchand group. Both have been accused of  helping Anees set up a gutkha manufacturing unit in Karachi.

Since the gutka case has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Mumbai police is not willing to comment on Nagma's involvement.

DCP Gupta, who had recorded Jumbo's statement, said, "I had recorded his statement, but I am not aware which Nagma he was referring to."

Nagma also denied she knew Jumbo. "When the media said I was involved with the underworld, they should have confirmed it officially. I am doing well in politics, and hence the opposition is targeting me."

Nagma recently campaigned for the Congress in Jharkhand.

Vijay Singh in Mumbai

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