New Delhi: Central security agencies are
likely to approach Nepalese authorities to question alleged
key ISI operative Yunus Ansari, arrested in Kathmandu on
charges of dealing in fake Indian currency and narcotics.
Sources in the agencies today said Ansari`s arrest over
the weekend is one of the biggest catches in anti-FICN (Fake
Indian Currency Notes) operations since he is a notorious
operative.
"We may approach officials in Nepal to question Ansari",
a Central security agency official said.
Ansari, whose father was a Cabinet Minister in Nepal when
King Gyanendra was in power, was arrested with FICN having a
face value of over Rs 25 lakh along with a substantial amount
of heroin.
The source said he was under the scanner of the Indian
intelligence agencies for several years and is allegedly one
of the prime agents of Pakistan`s ISI as also an aide of
global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim`s in the FICN racket.
He runs two FM radio stations and several business
establishments besides having funded setting up of a tv news
channel, he said.
Ansari, also Chairman of National Television channel,
which is airing its programmes under trial transmission, is
the chairman of Nepal`s Rastriya Janata Dal.
He is alleged to be one of the main person in the
circulation of FICN outside Pakistan and is said to have a
large network in countries like Bangladesh, Thailand, UAE
among others besides in Nepal, according to security agencies.
His father Salim Ansari was Minister for Land Reform
Management during the deposed King Gyanendra`s rule.
Interestingly, Yunus and Nepal prince Paras`s name had
surfaced last October following the arrest of two FICN
operatives - Ateeq Ahmed and Rajesh Gupta - by Madhya Pradesh
police`s Special Task Force.
On his arrest, Ahmed accused Ansari of running the FICN
operations with help from Paras, an information which was
passed to various agencies in India including the CBI.
Besides Ansari, his bodyguard and two Pakistani nationals
were arrested here on Friday and Saturday.
Nepal police had first arrested the bodyguard Kashi
Ram Adhikari -- who was allegedly involved in transporting the
drugs and fake currency -- from a guest house in Thamel, a
tourist hub in Kathmandu on Friday.
Later, they arrested two Pakistani nationals, Amir
alias Mohamad Iqbal and Raju alias Mohammad Saiyad, from
Thamel.
Ansari was taken into custody on Saturday after the
Pakistanis pointed towards him during their interrogation,
Superintendent of Police, Ganesh Khatri Chhetri had said.
Ansari and the other accused have been sent to 10 days
judicial custody.
PTI
