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Dawood Ibrahim's exclusive interview: 1993 Mumbai serial blasts accused is fit and in Pakistan

The voice samples were run past top Intelligence sources in the country who have been tracking Dawood for years who confirmed it is the voice of the man himself.

FP Staff|Aug 11, 2017, 08:58:23 IST

Jettisoning all speculation about his health and whereabouts, Dawood Ibrahim spoke to CNN-News18, giving the most definite proof that the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts mastermind and India's most wanted fugitive is truly alive and kicking.[caption id="attachment_3477926" align="alignleft" width="380"]

File image of Dawood Ibrahim. Image courtesy News18

File image of Dawood Ibrahim. Image courtesy: CNN-News18[/caption]This is the first time Dawood has ever spoken directly to any television channel. The voice samples were run through top Intelligence sources in the country who have been tracking Dawood for years. They have confirmed it is indeed the voice of the man himself. The audio clip offers proof that Dawood is alive and is operating out of his residence in Karachi.Chased by the channel's Investigations Editor Manoj Gupta, the gangster picks up the phone and appears to be calm and in control until he realises he is speaking with a journalist from India. He immediately tries to hide his identity and hands over the phone to his aide Javed Chotani and prods him throughout the entire conversation. It was evident that Dawood panicked when he realised he was being tracked.Manoj Gupta: Dawood saab..Dawood: Aap kaunManoj Gupta: Ji saab goodevening, this is manoj gupta from CNN-News18pause…..Dawood: Nahi ye chotani bol rahe hainManoj Gupta: Hain ji?Pause…..Dawood: Bol bolJaved Chotani: Salam walekumManoj Gupta: Haan walekum salamJaved Chotani: Kaun bol rahe hainManoj Gupta: Ji main Manoj Gupta bol raha tha CNN-News18 seManoj Gupta: Dawood saab the?Javed Chotani: Ji ji, manoj bhai boliyeManoj Gupta: Dawood sahab se baat kara di jiyeJaved Chotani: Kaun dawood saabManoj Gupta: Dawood ibrahim saabJaved Chotani: Boliye kya hai?Manoj Gupta: Ji main manoj bol raha tha, woh mereko jaante hain, poochh li jiye unse ek baarManoj Gupta: Unhone uthaya tha phonebackground rustle, pause….Manoj Gupta: Woh jaante hain mereko, poochh li jiye unse ek baarDawood: Haan bolo boloJaved Chotani: Haan bolo boloChotani is a Pakistani bookie who looks after Dawood's multi-billion dollar betting syndicate and his real estate empire in Dubai. He was also the conduit between Dawood and the bookies regarding the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. Chotani is said to be close to Dawood's brother Anees and is known as "doctor" within betting circles. He started out as a table tennis player in Pakistan. Chotani lives in Karachi and has a house in Dubai as well.

Manoj Gupta: Woh to sir, aap pakistan mein ho karachi ke andarJaved Chotani: Kisne Bola Ye?Manoj Gupta: Ye to number sir pakistan ka hai naDawood: Time Waste Mat KarJaved Chotani: Khuda ka khauf kar, time waste kar raha hai, tu kisse baat kar raha hai- kiska interview le raha hia- kuchh pata hai tujhe?Javed Chotani: Nahi aap batao itna lamba interview le rahe ho, itni saari baatein kar rahe ho, pata hai bhi kisse kar rahe ho?Manoj Gupta: Dawood saab seJaved Chotani: Khuda ka khauf kar, ek to naam aise lete ho, aapko kya wo aise kisi tarah phono pe mil jayeinge kyaJaved Chotani: Kisna kaha tumhe ye number- mita do ye number tum ek kaam karo – mujhe ek number do jisse mai aapka message kisi ke through paas karva sakta hun maiPakistan has always denied Dawood's presence on its soil, but India has denied Islamabad's claims to this effect. It's considered an open secret that successive Pakistani governments have given refuge to the fugitive, who is also using a Pakistan phone number. The 1993 Mumbai serial bombing mastermind now operates from his safe haven-cum-residence at D-13, Block-4, Clifton in Karachi.The lane in which his bungalow is located has a "no-trespass zone". Despite Pakistan's denials, Dawood enjoys the patronage of the country's intelligence services, while his den is also heavily guarded by Pakistani Rangers. He runs the dreaded D-company via aides like Chotani. The phone conversation, while nailing Pakistan's lie, also endorses India's dossiers against Dawood.In the last three years, the Narendra Modi government has prepared a new blueprint to nab the gangster, with the formation of five new investigative teams of over 50 officers from the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau. The Centre's mandate is clear — dismantle Dawood Ibrahim's business empire spread across the world.India is monitoring every move of Dawood and his gang. But it is no mean task, especially since Dawood and his family members are known to be not only extremely secretive but also very careful.In an earlier interview with CNN-News18's group editor-in-chief Rahul Joshi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had said, "It's a matter of time that Dawood will be nabbed."Javed Chotani: Mai bol raha hun ki aap kitne Mashallah samajhdar patrakaar lag rahe ho to aapko lagta hai ki aap koi bhi number milaoge to aap phat se Dawood saab utha bhi lenge, aap interview bhi le logeJaved Chotani: Number do mai baat karvata hoonManoj Gupta: Haan – 90xxxxxxxxJaved Chotani: Aap aap batao - seedhe studio mein interview lenge direct?Manoj Gupta: Camera bhej deta hun sir Karachi meinJaved Chotani: Karachi mein? Kyun…aap sirf mujhe kyun bol rahe ho baat karvane ke liye aur milvane ke liye, bhej do numberDawood uses an alias, Sheikh Ismail Merchant, in Karachi and hardly receives calls himself for security reasons. A fugitive in India, he leads a sybaritic life in Karachi. He has a highly secured palatial house spread over 6,000 square yards, with a swimming pool, tennis courts, snooker room and a high-tech gym.Manoj Gupta: Sir ek chota interview de doDawood: Nahi interview nahiManoj Gupta: Sir aap kahan par hain, main ek camera bhej doon karachi main?Dawood Aide: Iftahar ka time hai, jaane de betaManoj Gupta: Sir ek interview kar do Dawood saabManoj Gupta: Sir ek baar mil lo mujh seDawood: Mil lete haiDawood Aide: Kahan haiManoj Gupta: Main Delhi mein, batao sir aapke paas aa jaunDawood Aide: Dilli pe ho, Dubai aa ja Dubai aa jaManoj Gupta: Dubai kab sir?Manoj Gupta: Sir, camera bhej doon Karachi main[Pause…Rustling Sound]Dawood: Koi ias hai rehne de[Pause]Manoj Gupta: HelloManoj Gupta: Hello[Dawood Muffled Sound Of Him Prompting]Dawood Aide: Yeh koi time hai interview karne ka, iftahar ka time hai, koi namaz ka time hota hai, thoda dhyan to do yaarManoj Gupta: Ek chota sa interview kar do 2 minute kaManoj Gupta: Dawood Ibrahim saab bol rahe hainDawood: Acha BolDawood Aide: Acha bolo kya poochna chah rahe hoManoj Gupta: Kuch time dijiye sirDawood Aide: Jab dil kareManoj Gupta: Kab aaon sirDawood Aide: AnytimeManoj Gupta: Sir kara do ek baar baatDawood Aide: Haan to number do apna, main kara deta hoonManoj Gupta: 98xxxxxxxxxxDawood: LikhDawood Aide: Kahan loge interview, direct studio main logo interview?Manoj Gupta: Hum phone par lelenge interviewDawood Aide: Hum phone par nahi dete interviewManoj Gupta: Camera bhej deta hoon aapke paa Karachi mainDawood Aide: Jab aapko sab pata hai, to aap mujko kyon pooch rahe ho milwane ke liyeDawood Aide: Bhej do, aur ek kaam karna saath main aap bhi aa janaDawood Aide: Aab hamari baat tab hi hogi jab aap hamare samne honge[Pause]Dawood: Inka naam kya haiJaved Chotani: Aap ka naam kya hai aapka naam kya hai waiseManoj Gupta: Ji sir Manoj GuptaDawood: LikhJaved Chotani: Bas befikar ho jao, number note kar liya hai maine aapka, naam bhi, inshaallah karte hainOver the course of the telephonic conversation, it was quite evident that Dawood was not "unwell" as it is widely believed to be. It was thought that he was suffering from gangrene but as he himself claimed, he only has high blood pressure.Manoj Gupta: Kya haal hain sir…Good eveningDawood Aide: Good evening!Manoj Gupta: Kaise hain sir[Pause..]Dawood Aide: HelloManoj Gupta: Dawood saab good eveningDawood Aide: Good eveningManoj Gupta: Sir, Manoj hereDawood Aide: Ji bolo bolo, kaise hainManoj Gupta: Ji badhiya badhiya, sab Allah ka karam hai, aap sunaoDawood Aide: Sab badhiya haiManoj Gupta: Aur sir, tabyiat theek haiDawood Aide: Allham dil Allah, first classManoj Gupta: Sir yeh jo beech main rumour udh raha tha ki aapko heart attack ho gaya aur apko gangrene ho gayaDawood: BP badh gaya tha ek baar…BP badh gaya tha ek baarThe telephone call, while demolishing Pakistan's lie, also arms the Indian investigating agencies with one more proof to nab the one fugitive who has evaded them the longest.

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