Author: Haseena Parkar
Publication: Mumbai Mirror
Date: April 20, 2007
URL: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=15&contentid=200704200247003129a1ac004
Embarrassed by reports of Crime Branch officer's
links with the D Company, Mumbai police get ready to book Dawood's sister
Deeply embarrassed by an Anti Corruption Bureau
probe linking some senior Crime Branch officers to the Dawood Ibrahim gang,
the Mumbai police is now close to booking Dawood's sister and the gang's 'God
Mother', Haseena Parkar alias Haseena Aapa, under MCOCA.
While Haseena Aapa, who operates from her
house at Gordon Hall in D Company stronghold of Nagpada, has been under police
scanner ever since her brother shifted base to Dubai in early 80s and thence
to Karachi, this is the first time that a serious move has been set afoot
to arrest her.
While none of the officers Mumbai Mirror spoke
to were willing to be quoted given the ultra-sensitive nature of the case,
Police Commissioner D N Jadhav did not deny or confirm the move. "MCOCA
proceedings are initiated by additional commissioners. I do not wish to comment
on the issue as it could influence the case," he said.
Police believe Haseena Aapa looks after D
Company's real estate interests. She also mediates in business disputes, besides
providing protection to her brother's men involved in extortion activities.
Her sprawling first-floor apartment has a
large room where she holds darbars to resolve business disputes and also briefs
gang members. "We suspect Haseena's involvement in either broking deals
in Slum Redevelopment Authority's schemes or financing some projects,"
said a senior Crime Branch officer.
The ongoing ACB probe relates to a complaint
filed by a builder whose deal with a financier was brokered by Haseena Aapa.
Builder Krishna Milan Shukla had offered financier
Vinod Pranlal Avalani an equal share in an SRA scheme if he invested Rs 2
crore. While Avalani invested only Rs 30 lakh, he insisted on 50 per cent
share in profits. When Shukla refused to bow to his demands, Avalani lodged
a complaint with the Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 1.
The ACB suspects a few officers of Unit 1,
acting on behalf of Haseena Aapa, demanded a bribe from Shukla to settle the
matter. Two persons who claim to be informers of Unit 1 were arrested by ACB
sleuths on April 12 while accepting money from Shukla.
Mumbai Mirror had earlier published transcripts
recorded by ACB of a conversation between the arrested informers and Shukla,
where the informers flaunt their proximity to Unit 1 officers.
In the FIR lodged by the ACB, Haseena Aapa,
for the first time, has been named as an accused.
Crime Branch chief Meeran C Borwankar, who
on Thursday conducted a surprise check of Unit 1, was not available for comment
on her department's efforts to nail Haseena Aapa.
Crime Branch sources said Haseena has focused
on redevelopment of old, dilapidated buildings in Nagpada and is using her
clout to force tenants to agree for redevelopment. Once the deal is through,
she either offers the project to builders or gets it done through her coterie
of builders.
"We are proceeding against Haseena very
cautiously. We have a bad experience in the Arun Gawli case where we fell
flat. Now we want to make a perfect case so that nobody finds a loophole,"
said an IPS officer.
