1993 Mumbai blasts accused Farooq Takla nabbed in Dubai

Twenty-five years after his escape, the CBI has arrested absconder Farookh Takla, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and a close aide of fugitive mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, from Dubai, official sources said on Thursday.

He was brought to Mumbai earlier on Thursday and whisked off to the CBI offices for questioning. He will be produced before a Special TADA Court later in the day for remand.

Takla, against whom the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice in 1995 was finally tracked to Dubai where he was believed to be holed up, and later extradited to India to face the law.

At least 257 people were killed, over 700 injured and properties worth crores destroyed in the March 12, 1993, blasts.

Takla's arrest comes just two days after wellknown criminal lawyer Shyam Keswani reiterated in Thane that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar was reportedly willing to return to India and face trial, but the Indian government had rejected some of his preconditions.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy on Thursday congratulated National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for the success in getting Takla back to face trial.

"We need to compliment NSA Doval for Farooq Takla coming in the CBI kitty. Dawood not far off?" Swamy tweeted.