Mohammed Iqbal Memon, better known by his alias of Iqbal Mirchi, who was arrested last week over threat to kill his 41-year-old nephew Nadeem Kader, on Friday issued a statement through his solicitor Afsheen Chowdhry of AHZ Solicitors, claiming that he was being victimised by India, which is still seeking his extradition.
He said he was a “law abiding person with no convictions” and was being victimised for being a “successful businessman.”
Mentioning the Interpol red alert against him, Mirchi said: “An arrest warrant was wrongly issued in connection with charges of murder and drugs by the Indian authorities in an effort to victimise me.” He said the Indian government’s decision not to withdraw the arrest warrant after it lost the first extradition case in London was against the “principles of natural justice.” “However, even after these charges were dismissed, the warrant was never removed. This is not only unfair and unjust, but it is also a gross violation of the principles of natural justice,” the 61-year-old said.
Mirchi also denied any link with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who has been linked by the Indian government with the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai. “I do not have any ties or connections with Dawood Ibrahim,” he said in reply to a list of questions sent to him through his solicitors, especially about his connection with Dawood.
“I deny all involvement in any terrorist activities. I have absolutely no idea from where my name has been wrongly and unfairly attached to this matter. In 1995 a letter was issued by CBI to the British government confirming that I am not wanted in connection with any terrorist activities in India,” he explained.
Stressing that he was keen to return to India, Mirchi, however, did not answer the questions about the extent of his properties and business in India at present. “Despite all the problems that I have faced, I miss my homeland and hope that one day justice will prevail and I will be able to return home,” he said, and signed the statement with a “Jai Hind.”