According to reports, the United Arab Emirates government may have made a decision to seize the assets of underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim. The 1993 Mumbai blasts accused is believed to have major assets on the Arab soils.
Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Indian intelligence agencies declined any knowledge of such developments. But based on reports it is speculated that the growing cooperation between India and UAE in countering terrorism laid the foundation for this. The UN has labeled Dawood as a ‘global terrorist’, hence the move was initiated. This is being kept under wraps as a move to protect the UAE Government’s sensitivity and confidentiality.
Dawood is currently residing in Pakistan and is being closely tracked by India, in link with the bomb blasts case as well as being Pakistan’s spy agency ISI’s mastermind. The hunt for Dawood has been intensified after the BJP led by Narendra Modi took office in 2014. It is believed Dawood made Dubai his ground and has acquired huge assets in the Arabian Peninsula.
According to an official source, India’s caution is because the Abu Dhabi crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is all set to be the Chief guest at the Republic Day parade. Ajit Doval, the National Security adviser has supposedly escalated the pursuit against Dawood to the UAE Government and requested the seizure of properties owned by Dawood Ibrahim. When Narendra Modi and Ajit Doval visited UAE in 2015, the topic of Dawood’s properties was brought up and a list of his properties was given to the UAE government. According to media reports these properties are estimated to be at 15,000 crores.
