20 Most Famous Indian Gangsters

20 Most Famous Indian Gangsters

*Originally published by Lilian on October 2023 and Updated by Vanessa R in February 2024

In the realm of the Indian underworld, many fearsome and notorious gangsters strike terror into the hearts of their enemies. These gangsters are often involved in activities such as extortion, smuggling, drug trafficking, and contract killings.

The notoriety of Indian gangsters is a testament to the insidious nature of organized crime, which operates with a ruthless efficiency that defies the bounds of legality. Their operations are a brazen display of power and influence, often rooted in deep-seated corruption and nepotism.

Despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies to dismantle these criminal syndicates, they continue to exert a stranglehold on the economic and political landscape of the subcontinent, perpetuating a cycle of violence and exploitation that shows no signs of abating. It is a tragic reminder of the deep-seated issues that plague Indian society and the urgent need for comprehensive reform.

1. Dawood Ibrahim

Dawood Ibrahim is a notorious character who is an Indian mafia don and drug lord from Dongri, Mumbai. He founded the D-Company in the 1970s and is wanted for various criminal activities including murder, extortion, targeted killing, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Dawood is a globally recognized terrorist and is on the most wanted list with a reward of $25 million on his head.

He is believed to be residing in Karachi, Pakistan, despite the government’s denial. Recently, the Indian government confiscated six of his ancestral properties in the Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, through an e-auction under SAFEMA. Three of his other properties, including the Rounaq Afroz Restaurant, were also auctioned off in November 2017.

2. Chhota Rajan

Chhota Rajan is a notorious fictional character who is an Indian underworld figure and the former right-hand man of Dawood Ibrahim. He is a gangster with a strong grip on Mumbai’s underworld and is wanted for several criminal activities, including murder, extortion, and drug trafficking.

He has a reputation for being an expert in tactical operations and is considered a mastermind of several criminal activities. Chhota Rajan is a former member of Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company but had a falling out with his boss and formed his gang. He was arrested in Bali, Indonesia, in 2015, and has been extradited to India since then.

3. Arun Gawli

Arun Gawli is a notorious criminal figure in India, widely known as a former gangster turned politician. He was the leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena political party and had contested various elections in Mumbai. Gawli has a long history of involvement in organized crime, including extortion, murder, and drug trafficking. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 for the murder of a Shiv Sena leader, and his appeal is currently pending in the Supreme Court.

Gawli is known for his charismatic leadership style, and he is often hailed as a Robin Hood figure in the Dagdi Chawl area of Mumbai, where he was born and raised. However, his criminal activities have cast a long shadow over his legacy, and he is widely regarded as one of Mumbai’s most notorious gangsters.

4. Ashwin Naik

Ashwin Naik is a prominent Indian criminal figure, primarily known for his involvement in the underworld activities of Mumbai. He is the former leader of the Naik gang, which had a stronghold in the areas of Dharavi, Sion, and Wadala. Naik is known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, murder, and drug trafficking. He has been arrested several times, with his last arrest in 2015, leading to him being booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA).

Naik’s gang is believed to have had links with the infamous D-Company led by Dawood Ibrahim. Despite being a notorious criminal figure, Naik has also been involved in various philanthropic activities, mainly in the areas of education and health. However, his criminal activities have overshadowed his philanthropic efforts, and he remains a controversial figure in Mumbai’s underworld.

5. Varadarajan Mudaliar

Varadarajan Mudaliar, also known as Vardha Bhai, was a prominent criminal figure in India, known for his involvement in the Mumbai underworld during the 1960s and 1970s. He was the leader of the D-Company, which operated primarily in the areas of Matunga, Dharavi, and Sion. Mudaliar was involved in various criminal activities, including smuggling, extortion, and illegal gambling.

He was also known for his political connections and influence in Mumbai’s Tamil community. Despite his criminal activities, Mudaliar was regarded as a Robin Hood-like figure by many, due to his reputation for helping the poor and needy in his community. He was eventually arrested in 1982 and died in prison in 1988. Mudaliar’s legacy as a charismatic and powerful underworld figure has left an indelible mark on Mumbai’s criminal history.

6. Karim Lala

Karim Lala is a fictional character who is a prominent figure in the Mumbai underworld of the 1960s and 1970s. He was the leader of the Pathan gang, which had a stronghold in the areas of Mumbai’s red-light district. Lala was involved in various criminal activities, including smuggling, extortion, and illegal gambling. He was known for his connections with Bollywood celebrities and politicians, which helped him maintain his grip on Mumbai’s criminal underworld.

Despite his criminal activities, Lala was regarded as a respected and feared figure in Mumbai’s criminal circles. His legacy as a charismatic and powerful underworld don has left an indelible mark on Mumbai’s criminal history. However, as a fictional character, it is important to remember that Karim Lala’s actions and reputation are purely a work of fiction.

7. Haji Mastan

Haji Mastan, also known as Sultan Mirza, was a prominent Indian criminal figure who rose to prominence in the Mumbai underworld during the 1960s and 1970s. He was involved in various criminal activities, including smuggling, extortion, and illegal gambling, and was the leader of the Mastan gang, which had a stronghold in the areas of Nagpada and Dongri. Mastan was known for his political connections and influence, which helped him maintain his grip on Mumbai’s criminal underworld.

Despite his criminal activities, he was widely regarded as a philanthropist and social worker, due to his efforts to help the poor and needy in his community. Mastan’s life story inspired several Bollywood films, including the hit movie ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai.’

His legacy as a charismatic and powerful underworld figure has left an indelible mark on Mumbai’s criminal history. However, it is important to remember that Mastan’s actions and reputation as a criminal should not be glorified, and his philanthropic efforts do not excuse his criminal activities.

8. Abu Salem

Abu Salem is a fictional character who is a notorious gangster and underworld don in India. He was known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, smuggling, and murder. Salem was a close associate of the infamous Dawood Ibrahim and was believed to be one of the key members of his gang. He was involved in several high-profile crimes, including the 1993 Bombay bombings, for which he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Salem was also known for his involvement in Bollywood’s film industry, where he used his influence to extort money from filmmakers and actors. Despite his criminal activities, Salem was a charismatic and powerful figure in Mumbai’s underworld, and his reputation struck fear in the hearts of many. However, as a fictional character, it is important to remember that Salem’s actions and reputation are purely a work of fiction.

9. Ravi Pujari

Ravi Pujari is a fictional character who is a notorious Indian underworld don and gangster. He is believed to be the leader of the Pujari gang, which is active in Mumbai, Bangalore, and other parts of India. Pujari is known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder. He is believed to have links with several other criminal organizations and is known to use violent tactics to maintain his grip on Mumbai’s criminal underworld.

Pujari is known to have targeted several high-profile individuals, including politicians, businessmen, and Bollywood celebrities. Despite his criminal activities, Pujari is widely regarded as a charismatic and powerful figure in Mumbai’s underworld, and his reputation strikes fear in the hearts of many.

However, it is important to remember that Pujari’s actions and reputation as a criminal should not be glorified, and his violent tactics do not excuse his criminal activities. As a fictional character, it is important to remember that Pujari’s actions and reputation are purely a work of fiction.

10. Ejaz Lakdawala

Ejaz Lakdawala is a former Indian underworld don and a notorious criminal figure. He was active in the Mumbai underworld during the 1990s and 2000s and was associated with various criminal activities, including extortion, drug trafficking, and contract killing. Lakdawala is known for his violent tactics and was responsible for the murders of several rival gang members and innocent civilians. He was a member of the infamous Dawood Ibrahim gang before he split from the organization to form his gang.

Lakdawala was on the run for several years and was finally arrested in 2019 by the Mumbai police in Indonesia. He is currently serving a prison sentence in India for his involvement in criminal activities. Despite his criminal activities, Lakdawala was a powerful and influential figure in Mumbai’s underworld, and his reputation as a violent enforcer struck fear in the hearts of many.

11. Maya Dolas

Maya Dolas was a notorious Indian gangster and one of the most feared criminals in Mumbai’s underworld during the 1990s. He was known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder. Dolas was a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang and was responsible for several high-profile crimes, including the 1993 Bombay bombings. He was known for his violent tactics and was responsible for the deaths of several rival gang members and innocent civilians.

Dolas was on the run for several years and was finally killed in a police encounter in 1991. Despite his criminal activities, Dolas was a charismatic and influential figure in Mumbai’s underworld, and his reputation as a violent enforcer struck fear in the hearts of many. However, it is important to remember that Dolas’s actions and reputation as a criminal should not be glorified, and his violent tactics do not excuse his criminal activities.

12. Manya Surve

Manya Surve was a notorious Indian gangster who rose to prominence in the Mumbai underworld during the 1970s. He was known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder. Surve was a member of a gang that operated in the Wadala area of Mumbai, and he was responsible for several high-profile crimes, including the murder of a rival gang member.

He was known for his violent tactics and was responsible for the deaths of several rival gang members and innocent civilians. Surve was eventually arrested and killed in a police encounter in 1982.

Despite his criminal activities, Surve is remembered by some as a symbol of resistance against the oppression of the poor and marginalized communities in Mumbai. He is often portrayed in popular culture as a tragic hero who was driven to a life of crime due to circumstances beyond his control.

13. Santosh Shetty

Santosh Shetty was a notorious Indian gangster who was active in the Mumbai underworld during the 1990s. He was known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder. Shetty was a member of the Chhota Rajan gang, and he was responsible for several high-profile crimes, including the murder of a rival gang member. He was known for his violent tactics and was responsible for the deaths of several rival gang members and innocent civilians.

Despite his reputation as a violent criminal, Shetty was also known for his business acumen and his ability to operate in the grey area between legitimate business and criminal activity. He was involved in several legitimate businesses, including real estate and hospitality, which provided him with a cover for his illegal activities. Shetty was able to build a vast criminal empire and amass a significant amount of wealth through his criminal activities and legitimate businesses.

14. Vardha Bhai

Vardha Bhai was a notorious Indian gangster who operated in the Mumbai underworld during the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder. Vardha Bhai was a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang, and he was responsible for several high-profile crimes, including the murder of a rival gang member. He was known for his violent tactics and was responsible for the deaths of several rival gang members and innocent civilians.

In addition to his criminal activities, Vardha Bhai was also involved in the smuggling of goods, particularly gold, and silver, and he had connections to the Bollywood film industry. He was able to use his criminal connections to gain influence and build a vast criminal empire, which spanned across Mumbai and beyond.

15. Shantabai Bhosale

Shantabai Bhosale was a prominent Indian social activist and politician who was known for her tireless efforts in advocating for women’s rights and social justice. She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of marginalized communities, particularly women and children, and was known for her unwavering commitment to the cause of social justice.

Bhosale was actively involved in several social movements and organizations, including the Indian National Congress and the National Federation of Indian Women. She was instrumental in bringing attention to issues such as domestic violence, child marriage, and women’s health, and worked to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality in all aspects of life.

Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles in her work, Bhosale remained steadfast in her commitment to creating a more just and equitable society. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of activists and advocates, and her contributions to the advancement of social justice in India are immeasurable.

16. Vardha Bhai

Vardha Bhai was a notorious Indian gangster who operated in the Mumbai underworld during the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder. Vardha Bhai was a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang, and he was responsible for several high-profile crimes, including the murder of a rival gang member. He was known for his violent tactics and was responsible for the deaths of several rival gang members and innocent civilians.

In addition to his criminal activities, Vardha Bhai was also involved in the smuggling of goods, particularly gold, and silver, and he had connections to the Bollywood film industry. He was able to use his criminal connections to gain influence and build a vast criminal empire, which spanned across Mumbai and beyond.

17. Kumar Pillai

Kumar Pillai was a notorious Indian gangster and drug trafficker who rose to infamy in the Mumbai underworld during the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his involvement in organized crime, including drug trafficking, extortion, and murder. Pillai was a prominent member of the D-Company, a powerful organized crime syndicate led by the infamous underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Despite his criminal activities, Pillai was able to maintain a powerful and influential position within the Mumbai underworld. He had connections to high-level politicians, law enforcement officials, and other prominent individuals, which allowed him to continue his criminal activities with relative impunity.

However, Pillai’s criminal empire eventually came crashing down, and he was arrested in 1996 on charges of drug trafficking and murder. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison, where he remains to this day.

18. Bada Rajan

Bada Rajan, also known as Rajan Mahadev Nair, was an infamous Indian gangster and organized crime figure who operated primarily in Mumbai during the 1980s and 1990s. He was a member of the Chhota Rajan gang, one of the most powerful and feared criminal organizations in Mumbai at the time.

Bada Rajan was known for his involvement in a range of criminal activities, including extortion, smuggling, and murder. He was also known for his close ties to politicians and other powerful individuals, which helped to shield him from law enforcement efforts for many years. Bada Rajan’s luck eventually ran out, and he was arrested in 1999 on charges of extortion and murder. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Bada Rajan’s story highlights the pervasive nature of organized crime in Mumbai and the powerful influence that criminal organizations can have over local politics and law enforcement. It also underscores the importance of strong law enforcement efforts to combat organized crime and uphold the rule of law, even in the face of powerful criminal organizations and corrupt officials.

19. Munna Shukla

Munna Shukla is a notorious Indian criminal and politician who has been involved in a wide range of illegal activities, including murder, extortion, and money laundering. He has been linked to several high-profile criminal cases in India and is widely regarded as one of the most powerful and influential gangsters in the country.

Despite his criminal activities, Munna Shukla has managed to maintain close ties with political figures, including members of the ruling party in India. He has been accused of using his political connections to avoid prosecution for his crimes, and of using his wealth and influence to intimidate and coerce his rivals.

However, Munna Shukla’s criminal empire has not gone unnoticed, and he has been the subject of numerous investigations and law enforcement operations. In 2008, he was arrested on charges of murder and has since been convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

20. Ali Budesh

Ali Baba Budesh, born in 1957, was a feared Indian extortionist and mobster who fled to Bahrain in the late eighties to escape the Mumbai police. Budesh formed his gang and allied with Dawood Ibrahim’s enemies to lead them against him. He also began informing members of the D-Company to law enforcement and was involved in extortion rackets, targeting builders, diamond merchants, and Bollywood figures.

He demanded annual fees or flats from builders and deposits in Swiss banks from diamond merchants. Those who refused to pay the hafta were dealt with severely, such as when a local builder was shot dead by Budesh’s gang members. Some leading Bollywood film producers also became victims of his extortion tactics, and he made threatening calls demanding up to Rs. 2 crores from each of them. Budesh died on 14th April 2022 due to high sugar levels and being in a coma.

India’s 10 Most Notorious Jailbreaks

1. Tihar Jail, New Delhi

Zuck28, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2021, five dangerous prisoners escaped from Tihar Jail in New Delhi, one of India’s highest security jails, by secretly digging a 20-foot tunnel underneath one of the jail barracks over several months. The tunnel was barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through. It led the prisoners outside the formidable jail walls, where they had arranged for an accomplice to pick them up in a vehicle.

A major statewide manhunt was launched after the daring escape and the prisoners were eventually tracked down nearly 200 miles away in a small village two weeks later. The incident exposed major flaws and security lapses including failure to detect the tunnel as well as surveillance gaps that allowed them to escape undetected. It led authorities to order security reviews, increase perimeter checks and deploy additional tunnel detection measures at the high-profile jail.

2. Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai

In 2020, dreaded underworld don Ejaz Lakdawala escaped from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, which had been considered India’s most secure, by scaling the formidable jail wall using a makeshift rope crafted from knotted bedsheets in the early hours when security was thinner.

Lakdawala had spent months observing the patrols and planning his escape method and timing. He was also shockingly able to acquire a country-made pistol while inside the high-security prison which he threatened patrolling guards with during his escape. He managed to remain free for nearly three months disguising himself and bouncing between safehouses before finally being nabbed at Patna airport attempting to flee to Nepal.

3. Central Jail, Bhubaneswar

Photo by Humberto Portillo on Unsplash

In 2019, four murder-accused prisoners escaped from Central Jail Bhubaneswar after managing to break open the heavy iron grill covering the ventilator in the cramped jail bathroom over multiple days using smuggled tools. They then climber nearly 25 feet using ropes woven from bedsheets to clear two adjacent walls and drop outside to freedom.

Outside the jail walls, they had arranged for heavily armed accomplices to wait in a vehicle and speed them away from the location. The elaborate planning allowed them to remain free and mobile for over a week before police tracked them down nearly 500 miles away in West Bengal and killed them in a dramatic encounter.

4. Central Jail, Imphal

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In 2017, a militant separatist leader escaped from Imphal Central Jail by laboriously digging a narrow tunnel through the hard dirt floor under his barracks over 5 months using smuggled digging tools. The tunnel emerged just outside the jail walls where three armed followers were waiting to aid his escape and transport him into hiding.

As he exited the tunnel, other followers created a diversion by setting off explosions and firing guns at the jail gates nearly 200 metres away. This allowed him time to flee the area amidst the chaos. An intense manhunt ensued for over a year before he was finally tracked down and killed in a controversial police encounter with the Army in a remote hilly area.

5. District Jail, Coimbatore

In 2015, three hardened criminals facing murder charges for hacked a security guard to death escaped from Coimbatore District Jail by bribing guards and arranging for a makeshift ladder to help scale the intimidating 30 foot tall compound wall at night when security presence was minimal.

Their escape plan also involved having an accomplice hurl homemade explosives at the front gate to divert attention while they climbed over where another getaway driver was waiting in a vehicle. They managed to stay hidden from authorities for nearly four months before finally being arrested at a hideout in Kerala when a tipoff allowed police to track them down after an intense manhunt.

6. Central Jail, Port Blair

In 2013, two murder convicts broke out of Port Blair Central Jail, one of India’s few jails located on an island, through an elaborate escape plan. One of them managed to smuggle in a pistol while the other prepared alcohol to disarm unsuspecting guards.

When food was being delivered they overpowered guards and hijacked their boat to speed away into hiding on a remote island beach. One escapee was killed just 5 days later but the other managed to evade police and live undetected among isolated island tribes for five long years by hiding deep in faraway village jungles before eventually getting captured.

7. District Jail, Kolkata

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In 2010, a notorious mob boss escaped from Kolkata District Jail just two days ahead of his trial by using an elaborate plan involving hard-core accomplices. The plot required extensive coordination using smuggled mobile phones. As prisoners were being released at the end of visitor hours, his men threw a distracted guard and fooled others by dressing him up as an elderly visitor being let out.

Meanwhile, other members of his gang threw bags stuffed with cash, weapons and ammunition over the perimeter walls using catapults to enable his smooth onward escape. This shocking security lapse led to major reforms in security, surveillance and penalties against negligent jail officials.

8. Central Jail, Bhopal

In 2007, four students facing trial for sedition over suspected Naxalite links managed to escape from Bhopal Central Jail using crude bombs and tools they had secretly manufactured over weeks using pilfered materials.

On the planned night, they used the explosives to blast a hole through the wall while using bedsheets to knot a rope and climb out. Outside, more gang members threw weapons over the wall so the students could fight patrol guards and escape in a stolen jeep to a hideout over 150 miles away. All four were eventually killed in separate police encounters over the next year as they continued extremist activities while in hiding after the sensational jailbreak.

9. District Jail, Mumbai

In 2004, dreaded mafia boss Maya Dolas escaped from Mumbai District Prison, where he was lodged in a heavily guarded cell, by laboriously digging a claustrophobic 30-foot tunnel under the floor of the onsite jail hospital room in which he had been admitted.

The narrow hole emerged just outside the formidable perimeter walls close to a highway where a vehicle was waiting for his escape. His associates had provided digging tools camouflaged as medical equipment over months to complete the painstaking task. A massive citywide manhunt led police to track and kill Maya Dolas just two days later attempting to flee Mumbai in a controversial armed midnight raid.

10. Viyyur Central Jail, Kerala

In 2001, forty-two high profile prisoners escaped at once from Viyyur Central Jail in Kerala in India’s biggest ever coordinated jailbreak. The elaborate plan aimed to overload response capability by inciting violence simultaneously across multiple locations.

Some prisoners started fires while others exploded homemade bombs and cut electricity lines. With guards distracted, they cut through the main gate using stolen tools and climbed perimeter walls using ropes just as armed vehicles arrived at the gates to aid their escape. Sixteen remained free for months before separate police encounters eliminated them. Their daring escape pointed to glaring security weaknesses.