Wednesday, February 16 2005 14:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: J M Joshi, owner of Goa Gutkha, has said he would return to India later this month and plans to appear before CBI probing alleged underworld links of his as well of his business rival Rasiklal Dhariwal, Managing Director of Manikchand Gutkha.

Joshi told Aaj Tak that he, "Plans to expose the nefarious dealings and the fallout during his meeting with CBI in India in the third week of February," according to a press release issued by the news channel at Mumbai last night (Feb 15, 2005).

Joshi accused Dhariwal of having links with the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and said that it was the, "First major reason for his decision to split with Dhariwal in business."

Joshi said that he learnt about Dhariwal's links with Dawood when he had visited Dubai with his family.

"When I was going to Dubai in 1997, Dhariwal asked me to meet a dealer in Dubai who had some complaint about our product. We used to export gutkha there under the brand name of 'Golden Box'," Joshi said.

"When I went to meet Salim, Manager of Golden Box, he asked me to wait. Later, I saw one person entering another cabin. When I asked who that was, Salim asked me if I really didn't know who that person was," Joshi said.

According to Joshi, Salim said that the person was Mustakeen, Dawood's younger brother.

"An employee Ramesh, told me that Mustakeen was the partner in Golden Box Gutka company. Later, I also saw Hamid Antulay (Dawood's brother-in-law) come there with Dhariwal. Antulay, I was informed, was the Director of the company," the release quoted Joshi as saying.

Joshi told the channel that when he asked Salim what Mustakeen was doing there, Salim replied Dhariwal does business with him (Mustakeen).

"At that time, I decided to leave immediately and talk to Dhariwal about what he had just learnt," Joshi said.

When he started to leave, Salim asked Joshi to wait as Dhariwal was joining them in some time. Joshi said, "I saw Dhariwal coming and then entering Mustakin's cabin to discuss business."

Joshi said he also learnt that Salim was Dawood's brother-in-law. Joshi said that on returning to India he had spoken to Dhariwal's son Prakash who said that he was ignorant of his father's alleged underworld links. "Prakash pleaded with me not to leave the business. He swore on all Jain Gods idols that were there in his cabin and said he would help me," Joshi said.

Asked if he feared for his life, Joshi alleged he had been getting threats from underworld dons Anees Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan and had in the last five years sought protection from Mumbai police.

"I have been getting threats from Anees Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan but the police have not taken note of this," he said