NEW DELHI, Jul 4: In remarks that are set to stir a controversy, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani today claimed he talked to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in the 90s.
Mr Jethmalani said Dawood told him that he was ready to return and face trial in India but feared that he would be tortured. The senior lawyer said Dawood told him that he was not involved in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and was willing to return to India to face trial but feared threat to his life.
Mr Jethmalani said he informed then Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar about Dawood’s willingness to return. “I had a talk with Dawood Ibrahim himself. Dawood had said he was not involved in any blast as was being said and that if he was given an assurance that he would not ill-treated, he was ready to come to India and face the trial. I had in fact written to Sharad Pawar also,” said Jethmalani.
Jethmalani’s remarks came after Dawood’s close-aide Chhota Shakeel said in an interview that the Government turned down Dawood’s proposal to return. Shakeel said, “When we wanted to come back after 1993 Mumbai blasts, you people, your Government didn’t allow. Bhai had himself spoken that time to Ram Jethmalani, that too in London. But your ministry… that Advani played the game,”Shakeel said in the interview.
The CBI had alleged that Dawood Ibrahim conspired with ISI to carry out serial blasts in Mumbai in March 1993 in which 257 people were killed and property worth Rs 32 crore damaged. (UNI)
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