Contradictory statements on Dawood Ibrahim’s whereabouts land Modi govt in controversy

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi-led government has landed itself in controversy after making contradicting statements on the whereabouts of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

On Tuesday morning, the Centre informed Parliament that it was not aware of Dawood’s location.

However, barely six hours later, the government made a U-turn with MoS Kiren Rijiju saying, “Dawood is in Pakistan. Government's stand is consistent that he's in Pakistan.”

The government will now issue a clarification on the issue in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, according to reports.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said Dawood is an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and a red corner notice has been issued against him.

"The United Nations Security Council has also issued a special notice against him. The subject has not been located so far. Extradition process with regard to Dawood Ibrahim would be initiated once the subject is located," he said in reply to a written question.

The government has been maintaining for a long time that Dawood Ibrahim is living in Pakistan with the patronage of Pakistani security establishment.

Read: Dawood Ibrahim wanted to surrender, claims former Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar

India had handed over to Pakistan several dossiers on Dawood, India's most wanted fugitive, giving details about his locations in Pakistan.

On December 27, 2014, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said in Lucknow that Dawood is India's most wanted terrorist and India has repeatedly asked Pakistan to hand him over to it.

On the same day, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had said in New Delhi that India asked Pakistan to hand over Dawood as enough evidence had been given to it on the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

"We have been asking to hand over him to India for a long time. Already many evidence has been given to Pakistan. Pakistan should now act and hand him over to us," Rijiju had said.

Chaudhary said today that India has made requests in respect of fugitive wanted by Indian authorities in terror cases namely Willy Naruenartwanch to Thailand, Usman Ghani Khan to Saudi Arabia, Abdul Wahid Siddibapa to the UAE, Velu alias Boopalan to the UK and Mohammad Hanif Tiger to the UK for expeditious extradition of these fugitives.