Chap 2: Dawood Ibrahim – The Rise of India’s Infamous Crime Lord

A Crime Diaries Exclusive | June 2025

Mumbai’s underworld is not just a hub of crime but a complex world where politics, power, and personal ambition intersect. At the heart of this dark world stands Dawood Ibrahim, one of the most powerful and notorious crime lords India has ever seen. Rising from a humble background, Dawood built an empire that extends beyond Mumbai, impacting global crime networks.

This article explores every facet of Dawood’s life—from his early days to his criminal empire, his rivals, and his status as an international fugitive. We will also delve into the socio-political context and the human side of a man who changed the face of crime in India.

Early Life and Family Background

Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar was born on December 26, 1955, in Mumbake village of Khed taluka, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, India. He hailed from a Konkani Muslim family. His father, Ibrahim Kaskar, served as a head constable in the Mumbai Police, and his mother, Amina Bi, was a homemaker.

The family later moved to the Dongri area of Mumbai, where Dawood attended Ahmed Sailor High School but eventually dropped out. Growing up in a large family with limited financial resources, Dawood was exposed to the challenges of urban poverty, which may have influenced his early involvement in petty crimes.

Entry into the World of Crime

Dawood’s elder brother, Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar, led a small gang in Mumbai. Dawood started his criminal journey with petty thefts, burglaries, and bootlegging. When Shabir was killed in a gang conflict in 1981, Dawood stepped up to lead the gang.

At the time, Mumbai’s underworld was fragmented with multiple small gangs controlling different areas. Dawood organized his gang into a syndicate, which would later be known as D-Company.

Rise and Expansion of D-Company

During the 1980s, Dawood expanded his network extensively. He built a formidable criminal enterprise involved in drug trafficking (notably heroin), illegal arms trading, extortion, and contract killings.

He forged international connections, smuggling heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Europe and the Middle East. Dawood’s influence extended beyond Mumbai, reaching Africa and the Middle East.

• Drug Trafficking: According to UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports, D-Company was one of the major heroin trafficking networks from Mumbai to Europe and the Middle East in the 1980s and 90s.
• Money Laundering: Dawood used Bollywood and real estate sectors to launder black money, resulting in the underworld’s covert influence over parts of the Mumbai film industry.

Gang Wars and the Changing Crime Landscape

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Dawood’s D-Company was locked in violent conflicts with rival gangs, notably those led by Karim Lala and Chhota Rajan. Mumbai became a battleground marked by bomb blasts, shootings, and police encounters.

These gang wars devastated public life, harmed businesses, and severely tested law enforcement. While police encounters eliminated many gangsters, Dawood himself was never captured.

The 1993 Bombay Bombings: Dawood’s Most Notorious Crime

On March 12, 1993, a series of 12 bomb blasts shook Mumbai, killing over 250 people and injuring more than 700. These attacks remain one of India’s deadliest terrorist acts.

Investigations by Indian agencies such as the CBI and NIA revealed Dawood Ibrahim as the mastermind behind the bombings. The attacks were reportedly motivated by revenge for the Babri Masjid demolition and the ensuing communal riots.

Following the blasts, Dawood fled India, reportedly taking refuge in Karachi, Pakistan, from where he continues to operate his network.

International Fugitive and Sanctions

Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice for Dawood Ibrahim. The United Nations and the United States Treasury have blacklisted him as a global terrorist and criminal financier.

India has repeatedly requested Pakistan to extradite Dawood, but no successful efforts have been made. His continued freedom poses a significant challenge to Indian law enforcement and global counter-terrorism efforts.

Dawood’s Long-Term Impact on Mumbai and India

• Transformation of Organized Crime: Dawood turned fragmented gangs into a highly organized international syndicate.
• Crime-Politics Nexus: He established deep connections with politicians and bureaucrats, making crime a powerful force in the political system.
• Economic Impact: Extortion and smuggling severely affected Mumbai’s businesses and economy.
• Bollywood Influence: Underworld money and influence permeated the film industry, affecting its culture and operations.

The Human Side and Persona of Dawood Ibrahim

While Dawood is often portrayed as a ruthless criminal, behind the persona is a man shaped by poverty and survival. Forced by circumstances, he took a path where breaking the law became a means to power.

Reports suggest that some family members are also involved in his criminal empire. Despite his power, Dawood has lived a secretive life, always surrounded by danger and enemies, unable to live a normal life.

Dawood Ibrahim’s story is not just about crime in Mumbai but about a broader socio-political and economic challenge. His journey shows how a single individual’s ambition and circumstances can transform a city’s underworld and pose enduring problems for society.

This article offered a comprehensive look at Dawood’s life—from his humble beginnings to his current status as one of the world’s most wanted criminals.

Source:
This article is based on verified investigation reports, international sanction lists, and credible news organizations’ research on Mumbai’s organized crime and underworld activities.

Chapter 3: How Bollywood is Tied to the Underworld

As Dawood’s power grew beyond Mumbai’s streets, his shadow reached an unexpected place—Bollywood. From film financing to extortion, the underworld found a new stage. In the next chapter, we uncover how crime quietly crept into cinema.