Most wanted list blooper: ’Fugitive’ lives in Thane

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, May 17:  The government has ordered an inquiry into how one of India’s most wanted, whose name appeared on a list handed over to Pakistan recently, wound up in Mumbai’s Thane district, living comfortably with his family.

Wazhul Kamar Khan, an accused in the 2003 Mulund blasts, has been living in Thane’s Waghle Estate with his mother, wife and children, after he was let out on bail, sources said. He was also involved in the 2003 Vile-Parle and Ghatkopar blasts, besides the 2002 Mumbai Central station blasts

Official sources said the inquiry will cover the whole process of preparing the list of 50 most-wanted fugitives at different stages and pin-point the officials responsible for including Wazhul’s name.

"That list was prepared a month ago. Don’t know if he is the same person...there could be two persons with the same name. It could be an error of judgement. I also read in the newspaper about this...will check what happened," said Home Minister P Chidambaram after the Mumbai police blamed the Home Ministry for not checking.

Sources say after Khan’s arrest in 2010, the Mumbai Crime Branch failed to inform the CBI. Even today, Khan is shown as a ’wanted’ man on the CBI website with a red corner notice against him.

The latest list, prepared by India after Osama’s killing, was not updated and still shows Khan as one of India’s most-wanted fugitives, sources add.

Khan’s name is at number 41 in the list of 50 fugitives. The list includes Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and dreaded terrorist Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi besides others.

The list was prepared in consultation with Maharashtra Police, National Investigation Agency and Central Bureau of Investigation.