Controversial businessman Arshad Siddiqui on Friday dismissed allegations about he having links with the underworld by saying 'certain vested groups wanted to tarnish my image'.
Siddiqui's name had cropped up in a statement given to the police by Jamiruddin Kalia, alias Jumbo, an accused in the Gutka case.
Rasiklal Dhariwal of Manikchand Gutka and J M Joshi of Goa Gutka are the main accused in the case. They are alleged to have links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
According to media reports, Jumbo had told the police that he had approached Siddiqui for visa to the Gulf at the instance of Anees Ibrahim, Dawood Ibrahim's brother.
Siddiqui, who runs a travel agency, said he got the visa processed for Jumbo for his visit to the holy place of Mecca for performing Umrah and Haj.
"I have been in the travel business for the last three decades and I process visas of thousands of people. But this does not mean I know each of them," he said in a statement.
Siddiqui said he, too, had given a statement to the police when he was questioned on Jumbo's allegations. "I thought of keeping quiet but after reports appeared in media levelling allegations against me I decided to speak up and disclose facts," he said.