Iqbal Attarwala, an alleged aide of fugitive gangster Chhota Shakeel, was arrested on Thursday morning on arrival at Mumbai airport from Dubai, the police said.
A team of Mumbai police officers was waiting just outside the customs' checkpost at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai and took into custody Attarwala who had fled to the Gulf in 2005 after being shown as an accused in a land grabbing case the previous year.
"We have arrested Attarwala, against whom the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice in 2006, and are currently interrogating from all the angles," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said.
Besides a land-grabbing case, Attarwala is also wanted in connection with an extortion case registered in 2007 and a case of cheating registered in 2003.
A plot measuring over 2,000 square feet was allegedly grabbed by Attarwala after he barged into the land owned by one Ranchodbhai Patel in suburban Malad along with over 30 armed accomplices.
They forcibly removed Patel's security, installed their own men and then submitted some bogus documents claiming rights over the property.
On reports stating that a controversial encounter specialist from the city police had helped in the land grabbing, Maria said, "It's been only some hours since we have taken his custody and will also be probing that angle."
Attarwala used to organise dancing shows in the Gulf featuring Bollywood stars and the police will also investigate the links between the film industry and the underworld, Maria said.
