Dawood is still holed up in Pakistan: Shashi Tharoor

Says Dawood had used his Pakistani credentials to violate all visa regulations

Shashi Tharoor, former Minister in the UPA Government said here today that 1993 Mumbai serial blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim is still holed up in Pakistan.

"It could be that he has changed his address but our perception is that Dawood has not left Pakistan yet," Tharoor told ANI.

Tharoor went on to say how Dawood had used his Pakistani credentials to violate all visa regulations.

"There is no doubt that Dawood has stayed in Pakistan. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during its tenure had shared his address with the Pakistan government. We had never doubted him using the Pakistani passport and travelling internationally. But if Pakistan is now saying that Dawood is not in Pakistan, then that is their view," Tharoor said.

"But if he is hiding in Pakistan, the security officials need to keep a track of the matter," he added.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier in the day stated that India will do whatever it takes to nail 1993 Mumbai serial blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim, even if that meant mounting pressure on Pakistan. The statement by Rajnath Singh follows the controversy emanating from Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary's statement that Ibrahim's whereabouts are unknown and an extradition process can only be initiated after he is located.