CBI admits goof-up of '50 most wanted' list of fugitive

Bangalore: India had released a list of 50 "most wanted fugitives", saying they are hiding in Pakistan. But lately the terror accused whose name was in the list which was given to Pakistan has been found to be living in India, prompting the government to order a probe into the goof up. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has owned up its mistake of including the name of Feroze Abdul Rashid Khan, who is in Mumbai's fortified Arthur Road Central Jail and facing trial of the March 12, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, in the list of India's 50 Most Wanted fugitives allegedly hiding in Pakistan. They had also named Wazhul Kamar Khan, as one of those whose name figures in the list of fugitives, but later he has been found staying in Thane, Mumbai, after he was let off on bail. He was also involved in the 2003 Vile-Parle and Ghatkopar blasts besides the 2002 Mumbai Central station blasts. CBI had named 40 people and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had included 10 suspected terrorists in the Most Wanted list that was given to Pakistan during the home secretary level talks in March. Now CBI is now rechecking the names of 40 people it had given after the goof-up in the list. They have also owned up the mistake as they forwarded Feroze Khan's name. CBI had issued an Interpol Red Corner Notice against Feroze Khan in 1994. But though the agency has got his custody, the notice was not withdrawn neither was his name removed from the most wanted list. A spokesperson from Home Ministry said that the CBI has conveyed to them that the lapse was on the agency's part, and when CBI forwarded the list into MHA, they forgot to delete the name if the persons. CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said, "After the first lapse was discovered on May 17, the CBI ordered an enquiry and a review was undertaken. During that time, it was revealed that there is a person named Feroze Abdul Rashid Khan in the list of the most-wanted fugitive handed over the Pakistan. The information regarding the arrest of Khan was intimidated to the Interpol wing of CBI in February 2010. The lapse has occurred on the part of the officials in cancelling the name from the list. The CBI has taken action against them." Home Minister P. Chidambaram had accepted that the name of Wazhul Kamar Khan in the list of most-wanted fugitives given to Pakistan was a "mistake" and CBI has suspended an inspector and transferred two senior officers for the goof up.