NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi
In an exclusive interview to rediff.com on Sunday, Bombay underworld don Dawood Ibrahim vehemently denied any attack on him or his close aide Chhota Shakeel, alias Mohammad Shakeel.
"Nothing has happened. No one has attacked us. This is just a rumour," the 46-year-old don said.
In the underworld, mafia dons hate to admit an attack on themselves. They think it lowers their prestige in the market.
Dawood too thinks so.
"This rumour has established one thing. I have a following in India," he said, giving a whole new twist to the story.
"The Bombay administration had to deploy more policemen because it feared that the people who love me might react violently on hearing such a news," Dawood said.
When asked who was behind the rumour, Dawood said, "India's Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani is speaking against me to please the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The home ministry, Research and Analysis Wing, and the Bombay police are behind the rumour."
"Those who kill don't spread rumours. It is only the incapable who do such things," he added.
When this correspondent asked him if he was speaking from Karachi, Dawood said, "If I disclose my location then the Indian government will not allow me to leave this place."
When asked if it was true that Ijaz Pathan had attacked Chhota Shakeel, Dawood dismissed the query.
"The poor chap can't even kill a germ. How can he think of touching Shakeel? Ijaz is our bachcha (child)," Dawood said.
Dawood also admitted that Ijaz Pathan was living in Karachi.
When asked how Shakeel came to be his friend, Dawood retorted, "He is not a friend. Vo to mera bachcha hai (he is like my son)."
EARLIER REPORTS: Attack on Shakeel a rumour: Maharashtra govt Chhota Shakeel believed killed in Karachi
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
