Wednesday, August 31 2005 20:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The special court today (Aug 31, 2005) permitted gutka king Rasiklal Dhariwal to travel abroad and directed the police to return his passport for the purpose. Special Judge A P Bhangale permitted Dhariwal to travel abroad, except to Abu Dhabi and Karachi, while directing the police to return his passport on the personal bond of Rs one crore, Dhariwal's lawyer Rajendra Shirodkar said.

The court also asked Dhariwal to provide all information regarding his travel details to the investigation officer. Earlier, the Bombay High Court had granted an interim stay on a special court's order seeking to make Dhariwal an accused in the case of alleged nexus with underworld.

The local court had held that there was "prima facie" evidence to show that Dhariwal and another gutka king J M Joshi had links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. It had also issued notices to Dhariwal and Joshi asking them why they should not be named as accused for allegedly helping Dawood in gutka business.

CBI had alleged before a special court that Joshi and Dhariwal, owners of Goa Gutka and Manikchand Gutka respectively, had allegedly helped Dawood Ibrahim in setting up gutka business in Pakistan.

According to CBI, a co-accused had disclosed during interrogation that they had sent gutka pouch making machines to Pakistan via Dubai at the instance of both gutka kings to establish gutka business for the underworld don. As Dhariwal and Joshi were in Dubai, court issued warrant against them asking them to appear in person. Later, they came to India and appeared before CBI.