One of the recent off-bit topics I’ve read, this one book about ‘Mumbai Mafia’ has been the most interesting, well-researched and well-written. Here is an excerpt from Dawood Ibrahim's journey from “Dongri to Dubai”, and the six decades of Mumbai mafia.
The Book
The author collected information from the book “the gangsters in the city” written by Mumbai police commissioner Mahesh Narain Singh and “Underworld king Dawood Ibrahim” and "Gang War" written by Sharafat Khan in Urdu, Mumbai. Police dossiers gave much knowledge of the book “Mumbai Police” by Deepak Rao gave much valuable information. The articles in Tabloid current and the Illustrated Weekly of India helped him a lot. The most important of all was meetings with police, Arun Gawli, Chhota Rajan, Abu Salem, Ashwin Naik, Chhota Shakeel and not to forget at all, his telephonic interview by Dawood Ibrahim on Sep.1997.
The Author: S. Hussain Zaidi
This is a book on the history of Mumbai mafia starting from 1950 until today. Most of us only know the names of Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Chhota Rajan, Abu Salem and Dawood Ibrahim. But we get the details here regarding their activities and fate. Author S. Hussain Zaidi is a master storyteller, a Mumbai based Journalist, a veteran of investigative, crime and terror reporting in Mumbai Media. He has worked for major dailies like The Asian Age, Mumbai Mirror, Mid Day and Indian Express. His previous books include bestsellers Black Friday and Mafia Queens of Muns Zaidi. He is also the associate producer for HBO movie, Terror in Mumbai, based on 26-11 terror strikes. He lives with his family in Mumbai.
The Don: Dawood Ibrahim Kasker
Dawood – alias David – born on 26-Dec-1955, had a name according to telling in Islam as Dawood was a king ruling all God’s Creations- animals and birds. And David meaning a powerful Christian prophet of God. He was the second son amongst other five sisters and six brothers of father Ibrahim Hasan Kasker (head constable) and mother Amina. Starving most of the time, they were living in 10x10 sq. ft. room at Dongri Chawl in Mumbai.
Dawood studied in an English medium school at Nagpada. But at the age of 10, he had to discontinue study because his father was suspended. Ibrahim started the job at Baashu dada. Dawood committed his first-ever crime of snatching money at the age of 14, but caught by police and sent to remand home for three years. His initial crimes were petty theft, chain snatching, extorting money, beating people and pickpocketing.
From 1966-1973, his gang consisted of brother Sabir and brother Anees with Ali, Ayub and Rashid. He started a shop for selling watches and looting customer at Mahatma Market, Mumbai.
1974 Maulana Zia-Ud-din Bukhari Muslim politician initiated a “young party” with Dawood as a leader to serve poorly in marriage and funeral with organizing rally and festivals. Baashu Dada, a Pathan gang leader insulted his father & brother Sabir. So he attacked Baashu dada with soda bottles and injured seriously, Baashu Dada stopped his Pathan-gang. His main assistant Khalid joined Dawood.
04-Dec-1974: Father Ibrahim Kasker, an honest constable handed over Dawood and his seven people for looting 5 lacs.
17-Aug-1977: Actually 35 years old, press reporter Mohamad Iqbal Natiq became instrumental in diverting life of Dawood, because he advised PI Likha to support Dawood in the fight against Pathan gang.
Dawood and Khalid Peheluwan tortured severely Yusuf Batla, who ran away to jail, sentenced 14 years imprisonment before that, they killed Ayub Lala with a knife at Dongri market.
Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Varadarajan and 288 smugglers including Dawood were arrested during the emergency but released later on.
1980: Haji Mastan became the broker of peace by arranging a meeting between the Pathan gang and the Dawood gang. They agreed upon a peace accord by pledging with “Koran”
1980: Dawood his brother Sabir and Pathan Khalid Pehelwan started smuggling business at the Mumbai airport. “Kachara Peti line” means smuggled gold was thrown in the garbage bin after bringing from Dubai in sweet boxes. Then Mumbai airport staff was handling this to Dawood men. Then “Godown Line” started here carriers were putting gold in the rectum which the then X-ray machines could not detect. Later Dawood negotiated with Arabs directly.
1980, Arrest: Dawood was arrested under “COFEPOSA” (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) by Mumbai police. He managed to get acquitted in 1983.
12-Aug-1981, Sabir's Death: Amirzada, Maya Surve and others killed the elder brother of Dawood, Sabir, brutally by 28 bullets firing. Khalid Pehelwan saved Dawood from being killed the same night.
Chief Assistants of Dawood continued changing. First was Pathan gang separated on Khalid Pehelwan left Dawood after seven years of assistance. He separated without violence. Rajan Nair alias Bada Rajan took over. “Dawood never forgives or forgets even the smallest betrayals” and as we know “those live by a sword, die with a sword.”
1983 Killings: (1) Dawood and his assistants Rajan Bada and David Pardeshi killed Amirzada in court to take revenge. (2) David Pardeshi became government witness so he was killed by Dawood gang. (3) Pathan gang people Alamzeb & Karimlala decided to take revenge and killed Rajan Nair in court.
1987, Chhota Rajan alias Rajendra Nikhalje: Dawood invited him to become his key man.
The first victim was Abdul Kunju who was in prison. He survived JJ Hospital killing but was killed brutally at Chembur.
Marriage: Dawood was having a love affair with Sujata Kaur a heroine. She refused to marry because her parents did not approve goon, Dawood. Later Dawood marries Mehjabeen Kashmiri a beauty comparable to Sujata Kaur look. He had relations with heroine Mandakini.
Dubai, 1986: Dawood story is full of ups and downs. In 1986, he had to leave Mumbai because Mumbai police went after him actively and were about to kill by the encounter. Dawood considers himself as equivalent to President of America so he named his house at Dubai as White House.
Police Encounters: Police killed more than 300 goons in encounters, one of the strategies of Dawood is to inform police about the whereabouts of his enemy and getting killed in an encounter. “Whoever dared to rebel against Dawood was dead.”
12-Sep-1992, JJ Shootout: Chhota Shakeel and others planned to kill Gawalis men Shubhash Haldankar and Bipins here at the hospital. The former killed, but later could not be traced or killed.
Chhota Rajan alias Nana was India D-Gang in-change with 5,000 members. He was aware of Dawood’s A to Z, national and international. He was sacked.
06-Dec-1992, Babri Masjid Demolition: A mob of over 70,000 people gathered and brought down the Babri Masjid. Communal type of riots cost 2,000 people dead across the country. ISI of Pakistan took benefit of using this event. ISI contacted international groups like Pakistani Liberation Organization (PLO), Afghani Mujaheddin, Financiers of Dubai and Dawood. Dawood assigned Mumbai serial blast job to Tiger Memon and Mohammad Dosa.
12-Mar-1993, Mumbai Serial Blasts: Ten Serial blasts killed 257 and injured more than 700 persons. Dawood never entertained a rival’s growth and increasing influence lightly. He managed Tiger Memon this way and by projecting in bomb blast asked to leave Mumbai for Dubai.
1993, The Surrender: Dawood did want to surrender and he placed certain conditions. Later, he dropped the idea of seeing the fate of Yakub Memon following surrender getting no concession.
1994, Shift to Karachi: Dubai no more remained safe, so he shifted to Pakistan Karachi, a safe haven. Dawood was given “economic citizenship” of Pakistan having his new name. Here Dawood helped ISI in identifying RAW officers of India and Financing ISI. Later he helped Pakistan’s government by financial aid for procuring nuclear and missile technology. He got involved with terrorist organizations of Pakistan in rioting, terrorism, and disobedience in India.
I am happy you have continued reading until last. Now I must share a heart to heart discussion with you.
Comparison with Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister
Narendra Modi was planning to be a sannyasi, but by accident, he joined RSS where eventually, he was asked to become the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Later he thought he should serve India in total by becoming the Prime Minister. He sidelined, or say, placed behind him all the aspirants of the PM post, like L.K. Advani, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha, Murli Manohar Joshi, Pant to name a few. Similarly, Dawood Ibrahim Kasker managed to control, kill or retire his competitors like Haji Mastan, Baashu Dada, Varadarajan, Rajan Nair, Arun Gawali, Chhota Rajan, Rama Naik, Babu Reshim and so many others.
Well, Dawood never entertained the rival’s growth and increasing influence lightly. He showed each one their place! Dongri to Dubai to Karachi is a tough journey a son of a poor head constable with 11 siblings, only Dawood can travel.
The Book
The author collected information from the book “the gangsters in the city” written by Mumbai police commissioner Mahesh Narain Singh and “Underworld king Dawood Ibrahim” and "Gang War" written by Sharafat Khan in Urdu, Mumbai. Police dossiers gave much knowledge of the book “Mumbai Police” by Deepak Rao gave much valuable information. The articles in Tabloid current and the Illustrated Weekly of India helped him a lot. The most important of all was meetings with police, Arun Gawli, Chhota Rajan, Abu Salem, Ashwin Naik, Chhota Shakeel and not to forget at all, his telephonic interview by Dawood Ibrahim on Sep.1997.
The Author: S. Hussain Zaidi
This is a book on the history of Mumbai mafia starting from 1950 until today. Most of us only know the names of Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Chhota Rajan, Abu Salem and Dawood Ibrahim. But we get the details here regarding their activities and fate. Author S. Hussain Zaidi is a master storyteller, a Mumbai based Journalist, a veteran of investigative, crime and terror reporting in Mumbai Media. He has worked for major dailies like The Asian Age, Mumbai Mirror, Mid Day and Indian Express. His previous books include bestsellers Black Friday and Mafia Queens of Muns Zaidi. He is also the associate producer for HBO movie, Terror in Mumbai, based on 26-11 terror strikes. He lives with his family in Mumbai.
The Don: Dawood Ibrahim Kasker
Dawood – alias David – born on 26-Dec-1955, had a name according to telling in Islam as Dawood was a king ruling all God’s Creations- animals and birds. And David meaning a powerful Christian prophet of God. He was the second son amongst other five sisters and six brothers of father Ibrahim Hasan Kasker (head constable) and mother Amina. Starving most of the time, they were living in 10x10 sq. ft. room at Dongri Chawl in Mumbai.
Dawood studied in an English medium school at Nagpada. But at the age of 10, he had to discontinue study because his father was suspended. Ibrahim started the job at Baashu dada. Dawood committed his first-ever crime of snatching money at the age of 14, but caught by police and sent to remand home for three years. His initial crimes were petty theft, chain snatching, extorting money, beating people and pickpocketing.
From 1966-1973, his gang consisted of brother Sabir and brother Anees with Ali, Ayub and Rashid. He started a shop for selling watches and looting customer at Mahatma Market, Mumbai.
1974 Maulana Zia-Ud-din Bukhari Muslim politician initiated a “young party” with Dawood as a leader to serve poorly in marriage and funeral with organizing rally and festivals. Baashu Dada, a Pathan gang leader insulted his father & brother Sabir. So he attacked Baashu dada with soda bottles and injured seriously, Baashu Dada stopped his Pathan-gang. His main assistant Khalid joined Dawood.
04-Dec-1974: Father Ibrahim Kasker, an honest constable handed over Dawood and his seven people for looting 5 lacs.
17-Aug-1977: Actually 35 years old, press reporter Mohamad Iqbal Natiq became instrumental in diverting life of Dawood, because he advised PI Likha to support Dawood in the fight against Pathan gang.
Dawood and Khalid Peheluwan tortured severely Yusuf Batla, who ran away to jail, sentenced 14 years imprisonment before that, they killed Ayub Lala with a knife at Dongri market.
Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Varadarajan and 288 smugglers including Dawood were arrested during the emergency but released later on.
1980: Haji Mastan became the broker of peace by arranging a meeting between the Pathan gang and the Dawood gang. They agreed upon a peace accord by pledging with “Koran”
1980: Dawood his brother Sabir and Pathan Khalid Pehelwan started smuggling business at the Mumbai airport. “Kachara Peti line” means smuggled gold was thrown in the garbage bin after bringing from Dubai in sweet boxes. Then Mumbai airport staff was handling this to Dawood men. Then “Godown Line” started here carriers were putting gold in the rectum which the then X-ray machines could not detect. Later Dawood negotiated with Arabs directly.
1980, Arrest: Dawood was arrested under “COFEPOSA” (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) by Mumbai police. He managed to get acquitted in 1983.
12-Aug-1981, Sabir's Death: Amirzada, Maya Surve and others killed the elder brother of Dawood, Sabir, brutally by 28 bullets firing. Khalid Pehelwan saved Dawood from being killed the same night.
Chief Assistants of Dawood continued changing. First was Pathan gang separated on Khalid Pehelwan left Dawood after seven years of assistance. He separated without violence. Rajan Nair alias Bada Rajan took over. “Dawood never forgives or forgets even the smallest betrayals” and as we know “those live by a sword, die with a sword.”
1983 Killings: (1) Dawood and his assistants Rajan Bada and David Pardeshi killed Amirzada in court to take revenge. (2) David Pardeshi became government witness so he was killed by Dawood gang. (3) Pathan gang people Alamzeb & Karimlala decided to take revenge and killed Rajan Nair in court.
1987, Chhota Rajan alias Rajendra Nikhalje: Dawood invited him to become his key man.
The first victim was Abdul Kunju who was in prison. He survived JJ Hospital killing but was killed brutally at Chembur.
Marriage: Dawood was having a love affair with Sujata Kaur a heroine. She refused to marry because her parents did not approve goon, Dawood. Later Dawood marries Mehjabeen Kashmiri a beauty comparable to Sujata Kaur look. He had relations with heroine Mandakini.
Dubai, 1986: Dawood story is full of ups and downs. In 1986, he had to leave Mumbai because Mumbai police went after him actively and were about to kill by the encounter. Dawood considers himself as equivalent to President of America so he named his house at Dubai as White House.
Police Encounters: Police killed more than 300 goons in encounters, one of the strategies of Dawood is to inform police about the whereabouts of his enemy and getting killed in an encounter. “Whoever dared to rebel against Dawood was dead.”
- SI Rajendra Katdhare had an encounter with Rama Naik killing him.
- SI Emmanuel Amolik had encounters killing Mehmood Khan alias Kaliya Mamat Khan, Babban Konde and had 14 encounters.
- Cops Vasant Dhole and Kishor Phadnis had encounter killing of Vijay Utekar (Kanjari boy who killed Babu Reshim for torturing a girl on March 1987).
12-Sep-1992, JJ Shootout: Chhota Shakeel and others planned to kill Gawalis men Shubhash Haldankar and Bipins here at the hospital. The former killed, but later could not be traced or killed.
Chhota Rajan alias Nana was India D-Gang in-change with 5,000 members. He was aware of Dawood’s A to Z, national and international. He was sacked.
06-Dec-1992, Babri Masjid Demolition: A mob of over 70,000 people gathered and brought down the Babri Masjid. Communal type of riots cost 2,000 people dead across the country. ISI of Pakistan took benefit of using this event. ISI contacted international groups like Pakistani Liberation Organization (PLO), Afghani Mujaheddin, Financiers of Dubai and Dawood. Dawood assigned Mumbai serial blast job to Tiger Memon and Mohammad Dosa.
12-Mar-1993, Mumbai Serial Blasts: Ten Serial blasts killed 257 and injured more than 700 persons. Dawood never entertained a rival’s growth and increasing influence lightly. He managed Tiger Memon this way and by projecting in bomb blast asked to leave Mumbai for Dubai.
1993, The Surrender: Dawood did want to surrender and he placed certain conditions. Later, he dropped the idea of seeing the fate of Yakub Memon following surrender getting no concession.
Bad pennies, women and lost socks, they always turn up again.
I am happy you have continued reading until last. Now I must share a heart to heart discussion with you.
Comparison with Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister
Narendra Modi was planning to be a sannyasi, but by accident, he joined RSS where eventually, he was asked to become the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Later he thought he should serve India in total by becoming the Prime Minister. He sidelined, or say, placed behind him all the aspirants of the PM post, like L.K. Advani, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha, Murli Manohar Joshi, Pant to name a few. Similarly, Dawood Ibrahim Kasker managed to control, kill or retire his competitors like Haji Mastan, Baashu Dada, Varadarajan, Rajan Nair, Arun Gawali, Chhota Rajan, Rama Naik, Babu Reshim and so many others.
Dongri to Dubai
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