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No bidders for Dawood's properties

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay

The auction on Thursday of 11 properties belonging to gangster Dawood Ibrahim by the income tax department was a non-starter, with not a single bidder turning up.

The authorities, after waiting for almost 30 minutes for the auction to commence, finally threw in the towel.

The auction was expected to be a low-key affair, given the state of the real estate market in Bombay as well as the fact that not many would want to get involved in a property belonging to Dawood.

However, the income-tax department is determined to take the auction forward. Sources said 12 more properties in south Bombay belonging to the gangster have been identified and these will go under the hammer, along with the 11 scheduled for Thursday, sometime next year.

Together, the 23 properties are said to be worth Rs 450 million. All of them are held benami in the name of D I Kaskar.

Speaking to newsmen, Syed Muhammad Ashraf, additional commissioner, income-tax, said: "We are not concerned with what message today's no-show sends out, we are concerned with legalities and selling. We are not disappointed, we are doing our job."

EARLIER REPORT
Dawood's properties to go under the hammer on Thursday

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