ED attaches Dongri building linked to Chhota Shakeel's brother-in-law Salim Fruit, along with builder's funds

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken action against Mohammed Salim Iqbal Qureshi, alias Salim Fruit, brother-in-law of underworld don Chhota Shakeel. The agency has seized a tall building belonging to Salim Fruit in Mumbai's Dongri area.

The building is alleged to have been grabbed by issuing threats in the name of the Dawood Ibrahim gang and by using forged documents. The ED claims the property was then transferred to Salim Fruit's wife, Shazia Salim Qureshi.

The action did not stop at the building. The ED has also seized money lying in the bank account of builder Aslam Abdul Rehman Patni. Immovable and movable assets worth about Rs 4 crore have been seized in all.

According to the investigating agency, Shabbir Karolia and Yusuf Karolia are accused of passing themselves off as the real owners and preparing several documents, including a forged conveyance deed. The ED also alleges that the real owners were intimidated by invoking the names of Dawood Ibrahim and Salim Fruit, and that 50 per cent of the building was taken from them.

The agency claims that, to make the property deals look legal, the property was transferred in several stages rather than at one go. The investigation found that the building was worth about Rs 25 crore in 2016.

The case began with a complaint by a businessman from South Africa, on which the Mumbai Police registered a case. The ED has started a money laundering investigation on the basis of that case. What has emerged so far are the ED's allegations and claims, and the investigation is continuing.