New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two associates of gangster Chhota Shakeel from the western suburbs of Mumbai for allegedly handling the illegal activities and financial transactions of the crime syndicate controlled by fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, news agency PTI reported an official as saying on Friday. The accused, identified as Arif Abubakar Shaikh (59) and Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh (51), were placed under arrest on Thursday, the official informed.
"Both of them were apprehended from the western suburbs by an NIA team, which is probing the cases against Dawood Ibrahim's syndicate," the official said as he informed that the duo was closely associated with gangster Chhota Shakeel and involved in the cartel run by Ibrahim.
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During the recent raids at multiple locations in Mumbai and Thane, the NIA had picked up many suspects for investigation, PTI reported sources as saying.
Arif and Shabbir were also among the suspects, who were picked up for their alleged connections with the D-Company (Dawood Ibrahim's crime syndicate), the report mentioned.
NIA had conducted raids at as many as 29 locations in Maharashtra on May 9, as per news agency ANI.
According to PTI sources, the NIA team found in the interrogation that Arif and Shabbir had carried out some transactions with Chhota Shakeel, following which they were placed under arrest.
Chhota Shakeel operates an international criminal syndicate from Pakistan and Interpol has issued a red corner notice against him.
Shakeel is involved in extortion, narcotics smuggling, and terrorist activities, the NIA official mentioned.
He further informed that both the accused will be produced before the NIA special court later in the day.
(With Agency Inputs)