Mohammed Tahir Merchant, alias Takliya (53), one of the 29 absconding accused wanted in the 1993 serial bomb blasts was extradited from Dubai on Tuesday. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had got a red corner notice issued against Merchant.
With the extradition of Merchant, the number of people who have been sent back to India from Dubai to stand trial for the 1993 blasts has reached 11. Merchant was produced in the Tada court on Tuesday evening and was remanded to police custody for 14 days.
According to the CBI, Merchant was present at the Dubai meeting where the serial blasts conspiracy was hatched. A resident of Kambekar Street in central Mumbai, Merchant grew up with Dawood Ibrahim and his brothers. He is said to be one of the don’s trusted aides.
Merchant was arrested by the Abu Dhabi police on March 27, 2004, on charges of carrying firearms. The extradition request for him had been pending with the UAE authorities ever since. According to the chargesheet, it was Merchant who had arranged shelter in Dubai and a passage to Islamabad for the 19 blast accused who underwent weapons training in Pakistan prior to the blasts. He is also accused of smuggling weapons and collecting funds. The CBI had issued a red corner notice (A-288/5) for him in 1994. Untraceable for 10 years, the CBI finally got news about him in March 2004.
A reward of Rs 5 lakhs was announced for information about him.
According to the sources Merchant was handling the entire finances of the Dawood Ibrahim gang before the serial blasts. Even before the blasts, he visited Dubai several times and received recruits sent from Mumbai to Dubai for training.