No recall, only review: Centre on 'wanted' list

The government on Friday ruled out recalling the '50 most wanted' list given to Pakistan after two more fugitives figuring in it were traced in India, but said the document is being reviewed.

"The entire list is being reviewed. We have no plan to recall the list from Pakistan," U K Bansal, secretary, internal security in the home ministry told reporters.

While referring to the Central Bureau of Investigation's decision to suspend and transfer some officials responsible for the goof-up, he said responsibility for the errors has been fixed and action has been taken.

"The responsibility has been fixed as it is a matter of internal importance. The issue is being probed," he said.

Bansal also said that the home ministry will conduct an exercise to ensure that there is no such mistake in the future.

In another major embarrassment for the government, two more 'fugitives' in India's most wanted list handed over to Pakistan were found to be in the country, following which a CBI inspector was suspended and two of its senior officials transferred.

CBI Director A P Singh has ordered a complete review of the Interpol wing and the most wanted list will be thoroughly scrutinised in consultation with the state police and other agencies.

India's list of '50 most wanted' includes the name of Feroz Abdul Khan, alias Hamza, 51, an accused in 1993 Mumbai blast case, who was arrested from a village in Navi Mumbai in February last year and handed over to the CBI for further investigation.

The CBI had issued an Interpol Red Corner Notice against Khan in 1994 but the notice was not withdrawn even after the agency got his custody.

"The CBI has conveyed to the home ministry that the lapse was on the agency's part. When the CBI forwarded the list to the MHA, they forgot to delete the name of this person," a home ministry spokesperson said.

Khan is alleged to have facilitated the transport and distribution of arms and ammunitions during the blast.

The Mumbai police had alleged that following underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's instructions, Khan had arranged for the landing of arms allegedly used in the blast.

In the second instance, the name of Raj Kumar Meghen, a United National Liberation Front leader, figures in the list. He is now in the custody of the National Investigation Agency.

His name continues to figure on the Interpol watch-list for terrorism, use of explosives and organised crime.

Earlier, Wazhur Kamar Khan, whose name had also figured in India's most wanted list, was traced in Mumbai.