Iqbal Mirchi’s Mumbai property set to be auctioned

MUMBAI: The revenue department will auction Iqbal Mirchi’s residential property in Mumbai on Tuesday even as the Enforcement Directorate continues its probe against the alleged former drug lord, officials said.

The auction will be conducted under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, or Safema, they said.

Safema authorities and administrator are also awaiting valuer’s report on 13 other properties seized in the aftermath of the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts linked to wanted fugitive criminal Dawood Ibrahim and will be soon auctioning them, people aware of the development said.

“The e-auction and public auction will take place on Tuesday and tenders will be opened immediately after the two auctions are completed,” said R N D’Souza, additional commissioner, Safema.

Safema authorities have fixed a reserve price of Rs 3.45 crore for the 1245-sq feet flat at the plush Juhu Tara road in suburban Mumbai belonging to Mirchi. The winner will have to deposit Rs 86.50 lakh as earnest money.

Mirchi allegedly managed Dawood’s drug, betting and real estate syndicate in London and Dubai. He died in London in 2013.

Dawood, the alleged mastermind of 1993 Bombay blasts that killed 257 people, is wanted in the case and is suspected to be holed up in Pakistan.