2405:201:B:500D:CCA9:906B:7F41:E1A9 at 14:44, 18 February 2021

2021-02-18T14:44:01Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}

'''Iqbal Mirchi''' (died 14 August 2013)<ref>{{cite web|title=Dawood Ibrahim aide Iqbal Mirchi dies in London |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/1993-mumbai-blasts-case-accused-dawood-ibrahim-aide-iqbal-mirchi-dead-india-today/1/299603.html |publisher=India Today |accessdate=15 August 2013}}</ref> was an alleged [[Organised crime in India|Indian]] [[Criminal underworld|underworld]] figure, known as the right-hand man of India's most wanted [[criminal]], [[Dawood Ibrahim]].
Mirchi was often called the drug baron for his thriving narcotics business across Asia, Africa and Europe, according to various [[Print media|media]] articles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iqbal Mirchi, Dawood aide, dies in London |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Iqbal-Mirchi-Dawood-aide-dies-in-London/articleshow/21841752.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |accessdate=15 August 2013}}</ref>

Memon's family originally owned shops selling chillies and spices and thus he got the nickname 'Mirchi'.
Mirchi's fortunes soared after he began smuggling in banned meth tablets, heroin and Mandrax.
He also owned a disco called The Fisherman's Wharf at Worli seafront in Mumbai which was a hotbed for narcotics.

In May 1986, Mirchi was first nabbed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in connection with the seizing of 600 kg of heroin — valued at around Rs 9 crore — from a farmhouse in Thane. However, prosecutors could not link Mirchi with the farmhouse and he was let off. When the heat became too much, Mirchi left India in late 1980s first to Dubai and later to London.
The front for all his businesses in the UK was a rice mill called Eden Fine Rice.

He was first arrested by Interpol in London in April 1995, following a red corner notice for his arrest issued by the CBI. An extradition request was made on the basis that Mirchi was wanted for ordering a murder, and was the prime suspect in two drug seizure cases.

However, in 1999, all investigations of Iqbal Mirchi were called off for lack of [[evidence]]. The [[Government of India|Indian government]] also lost its [[extradition]] proceedings against Mirchi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/mirchi-s-extradition-to-india-denied-twice/story-yW67VRdkdsrxquIbWjaYOJ.html|title=Mirchi’s extradition to India denied twice|date=2013-08-16|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2017-10-27|language=en}}</ref>

Mirchi always claimed that he was a victim of [[persecution]], and that all the [[allegations]] against him were unfounded and [[bias]]ed. In an interview with the Guardian Newspaper in London, Mirchi maintained his stance, explaining that was how he won his extradition proceedings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/feb/13/india.drugsandalcohol|title=At home with India's most wanted man|last=Thompson|first=Tony|date=2005-02-13|work=The Observer|access-date=2017-10-27|last2=correspondent|first2=crime|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref> Mirchi also denied being associated with Dawood Ibrahim in any way.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/i-miss-my-homeland-want-to-return-iqbal-mirchi/20111022.htm|title=I miss my homeland, want to return: Iqbal Mirchi - Rediff.com India News|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2017-10-27}}</ref> In addition, Mirchi claimed he was a "law-abiding person with no [[conviction]]s," and that he was "being victimised for being a successful businessman".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/i-miss-my-homeland-want-to-return-iqbal-mirchi/20111022.htm|title=I miss my homeland, want to return: Iqbal Mirchi - Rediff.com India News|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2017-10-27}}</ref>

On 1 June 2004, he was sanctioned under the [[Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PPP-2004-book1/pdf/PPP-2004-book1-doc-pg964-2.pdf|title=Letter to Congressional Leaders on Sanctions Under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act|last=|first=|date=1 June 2004|website=|publisher=[[Government Publishing Office]]|pages=964–965|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>

Though many allegations were produced in the media against Mirchi, he was never formally [[criminal charge|charged]] or convicted of any [[crime]]. Mirchi died in 2013 of a [[heart attack]] in London at age 63. In April 2016, Mirchi was named [[List of people named in the Panama Papers|in the Panama papers]] for stashing [[Black market|black money]] in foreign [[bank account]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/panama-papers-list-amitabh-bachchan-kp-singh-aishwarya-rai-iqbal-mirchi-adani-brother/|title = Indians in Panama Papers list: Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, KP Singh, Iqbal Mirchi, Adani elder brother|date = 2016-04-04|website = The Indian Express|access-date = 2016-04-04}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Iqbal Mirchi has two sons Asif and Junaid from his first wife HajirA Memon and they live in the United Kingdom. His second wife is [[Heena Kausar]], a small time actress and the daughter of the famous film-maker [[K. Asif]] (producer-director of the epic [[Mughal-e-Azam]]) by his second wife [[Nigar Sultana (actress)|Nigar Sultana]] also lives in the United Kingdom.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirchi, Iqbal}}
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Criminals from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:People named in the Panama Papers]]
[[Category:People sanctioned under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act]]

Iqbal Mirchi - Revision history

2405:201:B:500D:CCA9:906B:7F41:E1A9 at 14:44, 18 February 2021