‘Hamza handled Dawood’s ops’

Preliminary interrogation of Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan alias Hamza, 40, arrested for his role in the 1993 blasts case, has revealed that he handled gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s business.

Senior officers of the special task force of the CBI said Hamza handled hawala operations and narcotics trade of the D-company across Europe.

“He was a major player in the D-company,” a senior officer said, adding that Hamza was also an aide of notorious criminal and blast accused Mohammad Dossa.

Police said Hamza, also known as Binod, had procured a fake Nepali passport in the name of Firozuddin on which he travelled across Europe to carry out operations of the D-company. He had escaped to Nepal after the 1993 serial blasts. He also reportedly told the police that during his stay in Nepal, he married a Nepali widow and the couple lived a lavish life.

Hamza also worked for the Chhota Shakeel faction of the D-gang and made extortion calls for the gang. “He spread terror among South Mumbai businessmen in the 1990s. He is wanted in a couple of extortion cases,”the officer said, adding that Hamza was instrumental in the landing of arms and explosives and also the transportation of ammo for the 1993 blasts.

He told investigators that he met Dawood and even stayed at his residence on two occasions. Hamza’s father was a petty officer in Indian Navy.