By IANS,
Mumbai/New Delhi : Wazhul Khan, one of India’s 50 “most wanted” fugitives, is actually living in Thane on bail, his wife confirmed Tuesday, prompting the Maharashtra government to order a probe into how his name figured in the list of 50 runaway terrorists given to Pakistan.
Khan’s wife told reporters that he has been living with his family – five kids and mother – in Thane for the last many years after he was let out on bail. He was in jail for his alleged involvement in the 2003 Mulund train blasts.
“He lives with us. We have a family of five kids, his mother and him. We are all living here,” Khan’s wife, her face covered in a veil, told reporters.
Journalists lined up outside their Waghle Estate residence in Thane after a national newspaper reported that Khan was in India and not in Pakistan, as claimed in the list of 50 “most wanted fugitives” hiding in that country.
The Maharashtra government has ordered probe into the goof-up. Khan’s name figured in the list that was made public last week, more than five weeks after it was given to Pakistan.
Sources in the union home ministry said it appeared that there was some “lack of coordination” between the Anti-Terrorist Squad in Maharahstra Police and the state home department.
They said Khan’s name was forwarded by the state government to the union home ministry.
Khan’s name was among the fugitives, including underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and dreaded terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Khan was arrested last year for the March 13, 2003, blasts that killed 11 people and injured 80. He is alleged to have transported the explosives to the targeted Mulund railway station.