Mumbai: Rasiklal Dhariwal, Chairman of the famous Gutkha brand 'Manikchand', summoned by Mumbai police over his alleged underworld links, yesterday (Dec 13, 2004) said that he was unable to return to India in the current accounting year and expressed willingness for questioning through video-conferencing.

In a statement issued in Mumbai from abroad, Dhariwal said that he has already stayed in the country for six months and would be unable to return in order to maintain his NRI status.

He said that this has been conveyed to the police authorities.

"In the present year, I have already stayed in India for almost six months and therefore I am unable to visit India this accounting year, otherwise I may lose my NRI status," he said in the statement.

The statement said that his son has also told the police about this and added that he was willing to undergo police questioning telephonically or via video conferencing.

He denied that he is involved in any "unscrupulous" activities and also that he was unavailable for the investigation. He called the media reports against him as "unfortunate".

Meanwhile, Police officials refused to comment on his statement.

Dhariwal, along with J M Joshi, owner of Gutkha brand "Goa" was issued summons by police on December 3 for questioning in a matter related to their alleged links with underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Their relatives, however, told the court that they were abroad.