Dawood's surrender offer not accepted due to 'no jail, no torture' condition

Former Maharashtra CM says Ibrahim's condition of not being kept in jail was not acceptable to state government

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar claimed on Saturday India did not accept Dawood Ibrahim’s offer to surrender owing to certain conditions.

Pawar, who was the chief minister in 1990s when the offer was made said the offer made through senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani was not acceptable to the state government.

“It is true that Ram Jethmalani had given a proposal about Dawood's willingness to return. But there was a condition that Dawood should not be kept in jail. Rather he should be allowed to remain in a house. This was not acceptable. We said he had to face the law," the 74-year-old said, according to NDTV.

Read: Dawood was in talks to return to India, reveals Chhota Shakeel

Pawar's statement comes in defense of Jethmalani's claim that when he met Ibrahim in London he was willing to return to India but the offer was rejected by then-Maharshtra chief minister, according to Zee News.

However, the senior lawyer denied Ibrahim's close aide Chhota Shakeel's claim that he had met Jethmalani to convey Ibrahim's offer. On Saturday, Shakeel claimed Ibrahim was willing to return to India but his offer was rejected.

"Dawood told me that he was not involved in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and wanted a guarantee from Indian authorities for his return that he will not be subjected to third-degree torture by the police during his detention," the lawyer added.

Read: Dawood Ibrahim shifted to Pak-Afghan border region: Indian official

Dawood Ibrahim is one of India’s most-wanted men for masterminding the 1993 blasts in Mumbai in which 300 people were killed.