Now,probe links Tiger Memon with plot to blow up city sites

“It is not Dawood Ibrahim who is suspected to be behind this latest terror operation,but Tiger Memon. Their networks are completely segregated and it is Tiger who,for some time now,is under pressure from quarters in Pakistan to work for his safe haven there. Besides having a successful and legitimate real estate business,he owns several malls in Karachi,” said a source.

“Besides these legitimate business operations,we also know Tiger frequently shuttles in and out of PoK to launch terror operations in India,and his name has cropped up several times in cases in the past. Prior to the 26/11 attack,India has repeatedly shared information with Pakistan on Tiger’s activities and demanded action against him,” said a source.

Investigators are aware that Abdul Latif Shaikh’s maternal uncle is a 1993 Mumbai blast fugitive identified as Khan Bashir Ahmed Ainul Haq Khan,an aide of Memon and his associate Javed Chikna. The ATS suspects Bashir is the man referred to as “uncle” by the duo in their phone conversations with their handlers.

According to investigators,Bashir was involved in reconnaissance missions carried out at the RCF refinery along with those at the Stock Exchange and BMC headquarters.

Investigators said Bashir also attended four conspiratorial meetings in Dubai and Mumbai before the serial blasts,was involved in the landing and transporation of explosives and ammunition used in the attack,and fitted the explosives inside vehicles at Tiger Memon’s residence in Mahim. Following the 1993 blasts,Bashir fled the city.