When it comes to India's most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim, nothing is confirmed information. His aides allege that rumour mills in the security establishments keep news hungry journalists busy.
Every time some media organisation runs something “explosive” on Dawood, his number two Chhota Shakeel dismisses them as a figment of imagination. After Dawood fled to Pakistan more than 23 years ago, there has been no authentic news about him.ALSO READ: Dawood Ibrahim Crippled By Gangrene. Are His Days Numbered?
All the news related to him is attributed to some source in the Pakistani spying agency ISI or Pakistani Army which are sheltering him. Sometimes it is also attributed to Indian security agencies or a rival gang of Dawood in the Mumbai underworld.
Minutes after CNN News18 broke the story about Dawood’s failing health quoting sources in Pakistan, Chhota Shakeel spoke to Indian media rubbishing it. He has claimed that Dawood is perfectly fine and has no serious health issues.ALSO READ: What Are the Implications of Dawood's Failing Health?
However, CNN News18 story on Dawood suffering from gangrene was confirmed by the highest level in India’s security establishments, which tracks every move of the dreaded don.ALSO READ: Dawood not Suffering From Gangrene, Says Close Aide Shakeel
In December 2015 Shakeel had dismissed all rumours which claimed that Dawood's empire was in danger due to close monitoring by intelligence agencies. Speaking to India Today Shakeel had said that his boss was not affected by such rumours.
“We are doing our business and not affected by such things. Our business is going strong and your information is wrong," he claimed.ALSO READ: Palatial House, Parties, Prostitutes: Dawood's Life in Pakistan
A few years ago, international media had reported that Dawood had shifted his base to Afghanistan border to save himself from any possible attack on him in Karachi. It was also rubbished by Shakeel.
In 2007, conflicting reports on Dawood's detention in Pakistan had kept rumour mills busy for days. According to Rediff some Indian television channels claimed that Dawood, wanted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, had been wounded in a shootout in Karachi while others reported that the gangster had been detained in Quetta along with his aides Tiger Memon and Shakeel.Watch: India's Most Wanted Terrorist Dawood Ibrahim to Die Soon?
No security official or hospital in Karachi had any inkling of any shootout involving Dawood, who was designated as a global terrorist by the US recently.
"Is he in Karachi?" asked a top security official in Karachi, who dismissed the reports as "rumours". No official was willing to say anything on record. Another official in Karachi pointed out that with the then Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf being in town, it was hard to believe that a shootout had taken place at a four-star hotel in the port city's busiest areas.
D-company insiders blame Indian security establishments for such “rumours”. They argue that such news reports affect the morale of his gang members in India who may leave the “killing” profession or switch sides.
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