Go-getters’ milestones: Smuggling, extortion, Bollywood, real estate...

Mumbai, for most of its contemporary history, has been the magnet for migrants and bounty-seekers. The city’s unique character — both in its composite social build-up and economic kinetics — spawned opportunities and ambitions unfettered by legal limitations. The early underworld, driven by the immense promise it offered, twisted the expression ‘land of hope’ to the point of distortion. In the city’s underbelly, it meant brute power and control, with all their dark connotations.

The influx of migrants led to the birth of the underworld in the 1940s. Pathan Karim Lala, of Afghan origin, was the first migrant to have carved out his own smuggling empire. Dons following him built, nurtured and ruthlessly protected their domains. In the financially bustling city, however, it was not difficult for the criminally enterprising to discover new pots of gold. The interests of the underworld discovered new terrains and got diversified.

The profits from the control of bootlegging and gambling, aided by the introduction of prohibition and anti-gambling laws, made the crime syndicate rich beyond imagination. Lala is believed to have made his riches by letting out his cross-country network to others.
Haji Mastan, an import from Tamil Nadu and Lala’s younger contemporary, made his millions through smuggling gold, electronic goods and he used Lala’s network to further his trade, a claim opposed by his descendants. He was arrested and detained under the Maintenance of Security Act during Emergency.

Varadarajan Mudaliar, again a Tamil Nadu import, started out as a porter at Mumbai’s Victoria Terminus Station (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) in the 1960s and built his crime kingdom through bootlegging, prostitution and matka operations. Later, he diversified into smuggling and dock thefts. He ruled the underworld well into the 1980s. Interestingly, despite their conflicting interests and overlapping territories, the early dons managed to keep peace. Lala is believed to have been the grand peace-maker in the underworld then.

Dawood, originally from Konkan, started out in Mumbai working for the Lala gang (according to some, he began his career with Mastan). He eventually split from them and started his own gang, D-Company, that was bigger in power and reach than those of his predecessors. He charted out new crime territories — movies and real estate — besides being involved in smuggling activities and extortion, pioneered by Varadarajan.

However, with the advent of the new economy and tougher government laws, the interests of the underworld has shifted beyond the old school. With extortion and smuggling passe, the surviving gangs are betting big on land, especially slum and cluster redevelopment projects.

“Underworld dons have graduated from extorting money from builders to being partners in real estate projects,” say sources in the know of the gangland affairs. Dawood, despite being away from the Indian shores, is still the man in command. “You name any illegal activity and Dawood’s presence is inevitable,” said a senior police official, adding, “He has a bouquet of activities, ranging from terrorism to land grabbing.” Now a global terrorist, Dawood operates his gang almost like a corporate boss.

“He has clearly earmarked every sector and the man-in-charge. He is like a CEO and the gang heads report to him,” said a senior intelligence officer.

Chhota Rajan, the next biggest among the new-age dons, controls nearly 30% of Mumbai’s underworld activities. His supremacy is virtually unchallenged in northern and eastern suburbs of the city.

“We first got official confirmation about his involvement in the real estate business after we arrested his wife Sujata in a case in 2005,” said Devendra Bharti, additional commissioner of police, Mumbai crime branch. “He also has a strong grip over real estate projects in Navi Mumbai,” pointed out a senior crime branch official.

“Besides, he makes a lot of money from cable operators and bar businesses in the suburbs,” said a gang insider. Chhota Shakeel, Dawood’s Man Friday, controls the video piracy business in Mumbai and neighbouring areas. The pirated DVD business, called ‘Blue Media’ in the underworld, is big business. Most of the DVDs are duplicated in studios in Malaysia.

“Dawood’s brother Anees has been threatening to take over the business from Shakeel. This could lead to a bitter battle,” said an insider, in charge of the piracy business in the western suburbs and Mira Road.