Mumbai: Observing that there is sufficient and enough prima facie material showing that the accused, Shabbir Shaikh, actively participated in the unlawful activities of D-Company at the instance of global terrorists wanted accused Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel, a special court on Thursday rejected his bail plea. Shabbir Shaikh, a 53-year-old businessman from Mira Road, was arrested in 2022 in a terror funding case related to D-Company. “He engaged in receiving huge cash amounts and furthering criminal and nefarious activities of D-Company at the instance of the wanted accused,” the judge said.
In NIA’s chargesheet, Shabbir Shaikh, fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, close aide Chhota Shakeel, Arif Shaikh, and Salim Fruit have been named. NIA has alleged that Dawood and Shakeel sent Rs 25 lakh cash from Pakistan via Dubai to Surat and then to Mumbai through hawala channels to Arif Shaikh and his brother Shabbir Shaikh for “commission of terrorist activities and committing big sensational incidents in the Mumbai area.” It was alleged that in April 2022, Shakeel sent Rs 25 lakh that was received by Shabbir from a hawala operator at Malad (E) on April 29 under the alias ‘Shahid’. He allegedly used his mobile number and the code word 25kg instead of Rs 25 lakh. An employee of the Malad hawala operator identified Shabbir in an identification parade.
The judge said that there was sufficient material showing the complicity of the accused in the case. “Further, the material placed on record demonstrates that there are several instances which are part of a larger criminal conspiracy wherein the accused, along with his other associates, planned a similar modus operandi for furthering activities of D-Company for extortion of money by putting the person in fear of death or grievous hurt, and they were raising and collecting funds for terrorist activities and also for the benefits of individuals,” the judge said.
