File picture: Dawood Ibrahim

Mumbai: Intel reports suggest that absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim and his long-time aide Chhota Shakeel have split.

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According to The Times of India, sources in India's intelligence agencies suggest that Shakeel has also shifted from Karachi's Clifton area to an unknown location.

The major reason for their split is said to be Anees Ibrahim, the younger brother of 1993 Mumbai blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim. Reports say Shakeel recently had an argument with Dawood over Anees' alleged interference in the operations of the gang.

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Anees resides with Dawood in Pakistan, while his second brother Iqbal resides in Mumbai, India.

Reports add that Anees had, on various occasions, tried to gain an upper hand, which did not go down well with Shakeel, who has played a key role in taking care of Dawood gang's activities for the past 30 years.

TOI has quoted a gangster, deported from Dubai, as saying that it was "next to impossible" that Shakeel would part ways with Dawood. "Even Dawood's brothers might ditch him, but not Shakeel. He has been loyal to Dawood all his life. And if there are some differences between them, it could only be because of Anees."

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Intelligence Bureau sources suggest that Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence is working on a patch-up between Dawood and Shakeel as it fears the fallout would hamper its activities against India.

The daily has mentioned sources as saying that Shakeel recently met some of his aides in an East Asian country.

The Maharashtra Police had recently filed its charge sheet against Dawood's brother Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar in the extortion case of a Thane builder.

It may be recalled that Iqbal Kaskar was picked up from his home on the night of September 18, when he was enjoying biryani and watching the 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' show on television, by Thane AEC Chief Pradeep Sharma and his team.

The development created a major sensation and later the Thane AEC lodged two other cases against him, including one in which the three Kaskar brothers - Dawood, Anees and Iqbal - have been named as accused together for the first time.

