Gangster Chhota Shakeel’s brother-in-law Arif Shaikh dies of heart attack in Mumbai

Arif Abubakar Shaikh, also known as Arif Bhaijan and the brother-in-law of gangster Chhota Shakeel, passed away on Friday, June 21, due to a heart attack at JJ Hospital in Mumbai.

“Shaikh was lodged in Arthur Road jail following his arrest and was currently undergoing treatment at the J J Hospital,” PTI quoted a police official as saying.

The 63-year-old complained of breathing problems and chest pain amid no major health concerns, according to his relative Arif Khan. “He had no trouble and was in the pink of health. The authorities are not telling us anything, and we gathered the information from JJ Hospital,” HT quoted Arif Khan as saying.

In February 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case against underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, his brother Anees and Chhota Shakeel, among others, on charges of terror funding. They were also accused of being involved with international terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al Qaeda.

In May 2023, Arif Abubakar Shaikh and his brother Shabbir Shaikh were arrested by the NIA in connection with the case. He has been in Arthur Road Jail since then as various courts rejected his bail plea, citing membership in D-Company, which is Dawood Ibrahim's organised crime syndicate.

Allegations suggested that Arif Abubakar Shaikh, Shabbir Shaikh and Mohammed Salim Qureshi played an active role in extorting large sums of money in the name of D-Company through property dealings and dispute settlements to raise funds for the gang’s terrorist activities.

In August 2023, police arrested Salim Qureshi on charges of taking control of the syndicate’s business after the death of Dawood’s sister, Haseena Parkar.

In July 2023, Arif Abubakar Shaikh's property at Gaurav Green Cooperative Housing Society in Mangal Nagar in the Mira Road area adjacent to Thane district was attached by the NIA as part of the proceeds from terrorism under section 25 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.