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That's why Arif Khan laid the 'terrorist on board' trap for his father, who was on the same flight, say police; the latter has been detained
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Grounded: The Dubai-bound flight, with 356 passengers and crew on board, was grounded for four hours in Mumbai, yesterday. Pic/Mahanand Gupta |
A son's desire to see his father behind bars may have been behind the drama surrounding the Emirates flight yesterday. The Dubai-bound flight, with 356 passengers and crew on board, was grounded for four hours in Mumbai, after an anonymous phone call before takeoff warned about the presence of a 'terrorist' on board.
A businessman Shahbaz Khan and his wife Munira were detained. The MRA Marg police believe that the caller was none other than their son Arif, who is embroiled in a property dispute with them.
Sanjeev Kokil, senior police inspector, MRA Marg police station, said, "I am cent sure that the son has done this. If the Sahar police ask for our help, we will prove this. Arif, at regular intervals, comes out with a plan to frame his father, so that he can lay his hands on his property."
Kokil added that when Shahbaz was contesting the Assembly elections in 2009 from Colaba "Arif made a call to the Election Commissioner, saying his father had a criminal background and should not be allowed to contest".
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Home truth: Ambuja building on Modi Street, Fort, where the Khans live |
Criminal record
Arif and his father are locked in a dispute over a flat belonging to Shahbaz, which is currently leased to a tenant. Arif was even sent to seven days' police custody for stealing from the tenant's home. Said Kokil, "In June 2009, he entered the tenant's house and stole everything. He even put up his nameplate on the door, stating that he was the owner of the property." When cops arrested Arif, he confessed.
The father and son have also registered a number of non cognizable complaints against each other.
"Shahbaz always helps the poor, helps them get treatment at local hospitals. His son has ruined him," rued Kokil.
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Their home on the third floor of the building. Pics/Datta Kumbhar |
Neighbours say
When MiD DAY reached Arif's house on Modi Street in Fort, a female family member said, "Shahbaz and Munira have gone to Dubai and Arif is not at home. When Arif returns, I'll ask him to call you."
A neighbour said, "Arif is stupid. All the people in the building are fed up of him. Wonder how the father is tolerating the son. He is always shouting at his father and disturbing the building."
Another neighbour added, "Arif has not only given a bad name to his family, but also to the entire building."
DCP Zone 8, Brijesh Singh said, "We cannot confirm any thing. Whether the arrested people are members of a
terrorist group or if the call was a hoax -- everything is under investigation."
A senior ATC official said, "We got a call from the airport manager around 9.55 am that a terrorist was on the flight and sent a message to the captain not to take off."
An Emirates spokesperson said, "We handed over a passenger and his wife to the police. We are cooperating with them."
| Timeline |
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9.55 am: Airport manager gets a call about a terrorist on flight EK 505
9.59 am: Message sent to ATC
10.20 am: The aircraft is stopped while taxing
10.47 am: All passengers and the crew deplane and all the hand baggages checked by CISF
1.35 pm: The plane takes off for Dubai with all the passengers, excluding the detained couple
(As per data with MIAL) | |
