The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the city crime branch has arrested Sayyed Abbas Tublani, former driver of underworld gangster Anees Ibrahim, for allegedly planning to eliminate former senior journalist S Balakrishnan at the behest of gangster Chhota Shakeel.

Tublani has reportedly told the police that he was arranging for a weapon for the 'job'. Balakrishnan had won the auction bid of Dawood Ibrahim's hotel Raunak Afroz at Pakmodia Street last month. Two more persons are being questioned by the police, sources said.

Tublani, 47, is a resident of Mumbra.

According to the police, in December 2015, Balakrishnan, through his NGO, Desh Seva Samiti, had participated in an auction of properties belonging to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

The NGO had deposited an earnest money of Rs 30 lakh. On December 9, the auction of the properties was conducted at Hotel Diplomat in Colaba.

Balakrishnan had bid for Hotel Raunak Afroz, situated at Pakmodia Street in Bhendi Bazaar, and made the highest bid of Rs 4.28 crore. He is making efforts to collect funds through his NGO and had applied for an extension of a month to deposit the money.

Balakrishnan had then received a threatening SMS from Dawood's close associate Chhota Shakeel from his international mobile number. The message stated "Boli laga rahe ho kya....tumhari khair nahi...tumko kida ho gaya hai...samajne wala message kiya tha maine, agar khud khushi karne ka shouk hai to koi alag bat nahi..." (Are you bidding?...won't be good for you...you are getting smart...I had tried to make you understand through a message...but it is a different thing if you want to commit suicide...)

"Balakrishnan had received a threat to his life before and after the auction. He was categorically told that he would be killed if he participates in the auction. Balakrishnan then complained to the AEC," said senior police inspector Vinayak Vast of AEC.

The probe revealed that Shakeel, who is based in Pakistan, was coordinating with an unknown person near Mumbai. "It transpired that the Mumbra resident was planning an attack on the life of the former journalist. He was then nabbed from Mumbra. During his interrogation, he revealed that he was ready to kill the victim at the instance of Shakeel and was looking for an appropriate time. We have seized the phone which was used by the accused to communicate with Shakeel. We have recovered two mobile phones with Sim cards," he said.

"I am aware about a person planning to kill me at Shakeel's behest being arrested by the police. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently visited Pakistan and I have made an appeal to him to discuss with Pakistan about the threats being issued to an Indian citizen from a good hiding in Pakistan. Shakeel should be extradited to India," Balakrishnan told dna.

Following a threat from Shakeel, the scribe has been provided police security. "I have been provided two armed guards for round-the-clock security. The Chembur police too have stepped up their patrolling. I have full faith in the Mumbai police and I thank them for unearthing this conspiracy," he said.

Who is Tulbani?Sayyed Abbas Tublani is a close associate of the Dawood Ibrahim gang and had committed crimes for the gang in the past. Tublani was in constant touch with Shakeel and has been receiving money from him regularly.

There are murder attempt cases against him at Agripada, Dongri and JJ Marg police stations and the Crime Branch. One case in 1996 relates to a firing incident on gangster Sadhu Shetty. Tublani had been absconding since the time he was released on bail. His associates Zakir alias Jain, Prasad Khade, Jitu Rane and a few others died in police operations in the mid-90s. In 1999, Tublani fled to Dubai and was in the core circle of the D-gang. He was working as a driver with Anees Ibrahim and has also committed crimes in Dubai. At the instance of Shakeel, Tublani had stabbed one Manish Ajmeri, a matka king, in Dubai. He was arrested was later released on bail. In 2008, Tublani came to Mumbai and shifted to Hyderabad before moving back to Mumbra since 2010. He stays with his wife and three children.