Lapse in the fugitive list: Authorities in denial

Out of 50 most wanted, one found in Mumbai suburbs

PTI | May 17, 2011



The Mumbai police has sought to wash their hands off the goof-up in the list of India's 50 'most wanted' fugitives given to Pakistan after a terror accused, figuring in the document, was found living in neighbouring Thane.

Wazhul Kamar Khan alias Murtuza Choudhary's name was at number 41 in the list that was handed over to Pakistan during secretary-level talks in March and made public recently.

The 44-year-old man, who was arrested last year for his alleged role in the 2003 Mulund train blasts here, has been living in Thane's Waghle Estate with his mother, wife and children, after he was let out on bail, police sources said.

Neither the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) nor Mumbai police's crime branch is accepting any lapse on their part that led to the gaffe.

"We have not given any such name to the Central government," a top ATS official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

In the same vein, a senior IPS officer with the crime branch said, "We were not contacted by anybody before preparing the list. The central security agencies are responsible for the goof-up. Had they contacted us, we would have updated them about Khan's arrest."

Khan had been arrested by the ATS from suburban Kurla with a 7.65 mm pistol and three live cartridges on May 10 last year.

He was subsequently sent to judicial custody in a case registered under the Arms Act when the Mumbai's crime branch, probing the blast cases, arrested him in the Mulund blast case on May 21.

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