A CBI team will leave for South American nation Chile shortly to verify whether Abdul Rauf, arrested there, is the same person wanted by India in the hijacking of Indian Airlines plane to Kandhar in 1999. Rauf was arrested in a case of fake visa but during investigation Chilean police found that Interpol had issued a notice against one Abdul Rauf involved in the hijacking of the plane.

CBI was informed about the arrest yesterday. Rauf, wanted by India, is a close relative of terrorist Masood Azhar who was released by the NDA government to secure the release of over 160 passengers of IC-814 plane which was hijacked from Nepal to Kandahar, Afghanistan by terrorists on December 24, 1999. Our correspondent reports that Rauf is believed to be the main co-ordinator and financier of the hijacking episode.