Govt does U-turn on Dawood's whereabouts, says he's very much in Pakistan

After claiming in Parliament that they were not aware of the location of Dawood Ibrahim, the government did a U-turn on Tuesday and said that the underworld don was very much in Pakistan.

Govt does U-turn on Dawood's whereabouts, says he's very much in Pakistan
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Delhi: After claiming in Parliament that they were not aware of the location of Dawood Ibrahim, the government did a U-turn on Tuesday and said that the underworld don was very much in Pakistan.

“Dawood is in Pakistan. Government's stand is consistent that he's in Pakistan, MoS Home Kiren Rijiju said, adding, “Do not misconstrue a statement based on specific question. Do not misconstrue intention of government.”

He maintained that the government was pursuing the case very seriously and there had been no lapses.

“Indian government has been providing information about his whereabouts to Pakistan,” Rijiju said, as per ANI.

The minister also pointed out that the agencies in Pakistan were not cooperating with India. “It is well known to everybody,” he said.

The government had today said it was not aware of the location of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim whose deportation from Pakistan it has been demanding.

"The subject has not been located so far. Extradition process with regard to Dawood Ibrahim would be initiated once the subject is located," Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said while replying to a written question of BJP MP Nityanand Rai.

The written reply referred to Dawood Ibrahim as an accused in the Mumbai serial blasts of 1993 and noted that a Red Corner Notice was in existence against him.

"The United Nations Security Council has also issued a special notice against him," he said, as per PTI.

As media carried news on the question, a red faced government prepared to issue a clarification in Lok Sabha tomorrow.

Government sources said Chaudhary held a meeting with Union Home Secretary LC Goyal where they discussed the modalities of briefing Parliament tomorrow.

Officials sought to blame bureaucratic goof up for the reply. They claimed that the Home Ministry prepared the reply in consultation with External Affairs ministry.

Interestingly, the government has been maintaining for a long time that Dawood Ibrahim is living in Pakistan with the patronage of Pakistani security establishment.

India had handed over to Pakistan several dossiers on Dawood, India's most wanted fugitive, giving details about his locations in Pakistan.

On December 27, 2014, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said in Lucknow that Dawood is India's most wanted terrorist and that New Delhi has repeatedly asked Pakistan to hand him over to it.

(With Agency inputs)

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