Mumbai: Iqbal Kaskar, the brother of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was on Monday night arrested by the crime branch of the Thane police in connection with an investigation into an extortion case.
Iqbal was taken into custody from his house in Nagpada area in Central Mumbai by a team led by encounter specialist and the anti-extortion cell's senior police inspector Pradeep Sharma.
"Iqbal was brought for questioning in connection with an extortion case. After an investigation, he was found to be involved in the case and arrested," an official said.
According to sources, some extortion calls were made in Iqbal's name to a Thane-based businessman, PTI reported.
The businessman then approached the anti-extortion cell of Thane police with a complaint.
Acting on the complaint this evening, Sharma's team went to Nagpada and took Iqbal into custody.
Earlier on September 07, Kaskar had been asked to vacate two dilapidated buildings which the authorities said were acquired illegally.
He was asked to vacate the Damarwala Building at Pakmodia Street in Bhendi Bazaar and Shabnam Guest House in JJ Marg area, both in south Mumbai.
A notice under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 or SAFEMA Act had been pasted outside the Damarwala building, asking the occupants to vacate it.
A similar notice was also put up at Shabnam Guest House located in JJ Marg area.
Dawood's late sister Hasina Parker also used to stay in Damarwala Building.
Iqbal, who was deported from the United Arab Emirates in 2003, is said to be operating his brother's real estate business in the city, the police said.
He was wanted in a murder case and the Sara Sahara illegal construction case. However, he was acquitted in both the cases in 2007.
Sharma, who led the team that detained Kaskar, was suspended in Lakhan Bhaiya encounter case and was recently reinstated in the police force.
(With Agency inputs)
