Will order probe if RK Singh's Dawood claims substantiate: Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Describing as "serious" the purported claims by BJP leader and former home secretary RK Singh regarding Mumbai Police botching up a bid to go after fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said he will order a probe into the matter if the charges are substantiated.

"It's a very serious allegation and, if substantiated, we will hold an inquiry," the Maharashtra Chief Minister told PTI.

"Such people don't deserve to remain in service," he said when asked about Singh's allegation that some personnel in Mumbai Police had foiled a plan to bring Dawood to India.

In an interview to India Today channel, Singh had talked about a botched operation to target Dawood. However, the former home secretary had made it clear that he cannot say it was confirmed and that he does not have any evidence.

"A group was being trained to target Dawood, but he had people in Mumbai Police on his 'pay roll' who were alerted.

Mumbai Police came saying there is a warrant against them. But I cannot say it is confirmed. I have just heard. I don't have evidence," Singh had said.

Singh had claimed that India had planned a covert operation to target Dawood which was launched when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, but it was compromised by some corrupt elements in Mumbai Police.