Underworld don Babloo approaches HC against MCOCA charges

A trial court here had on September 19 allowed framing of charges against him and his aide, Fazal-ur-Rehman, under MCOCA for allegedly running the syndicate here between 1983 and 1997.

Challenging the trial court's order, Srivastava, who was extradited from Singapore in 1995 and is now lodged in central jail at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, pleaded before the High Court for quashing of the order, saying he had been in jail for the last 15 years and that he was not involved in any crime.

Justice V K Jain, after hearing the contention of his lawyer D B Goswami, issued notice to the Delhi police and asked them to file their response by the next date of hearing.

Srivastava and Rehman have denied their involvement in any crime syndicate. The two have been accused of running an organized crime syndicate in the national capital between 1983 and 1997. An FIR under MCOCA was lodged against them by the Delhi Police in 2006.

Srivastava and Rehman have been allegedly involved in 43 cases each including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and other serious offences punishable under TADA and the Arms Act in different parts of country, including Delhi, the prosecution has claimed.

Srivastava was extradited from Singapore in 1995 for his involvement in five criminal cases. Rehman, a resident of Darbhanga in Bihar, was arrested from Indo-Nepal border in 2006 and is in judicial custody in Tihar jail.

Rehman allegedly ran his crime syndicate from his base in Dubai and was associated with Srivastava for nearly 14 years, police said.