Dawood's Mentor

1. Dawood's Humble Beginnings and Police Lineage

Right through his childhood Dawood had grown up with an abundance of uniforms around him.

Early life struggles. Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar grew up in a large, impoverished family in Dongri, South Mumbai. His father, Ibrahim Kaskar, was a respected Police Head Constable, but his suspension and eventual sacking due to a controversy plunged the family into financial hardship. This stark contrast between his father's respected position and the family's poverty deeply impacted young Dawood.

Influence of authority. Growing up in a police household instilled in Dawood a complex relationship with authority. He developed a deep respect for the power of the uniform but was not intimidated by it. This early exposure to the system, combined with his father's connections, would later prove invaluable in his criminal career, allowing him to navigate and manipulate law enforcement.

Academic decline. Dawood and his elder brother Sabir struggled in school, often getting into trouble. Sabir was eventually rusticated, and Dawood, after a fight, dropped out. Despite attempts by his father's friend, Inspector Malgi, to keep him in school and even enroll him in the Road Safety Patrol (RSP), Dawood veered towards a life of delinquency and crime, seeking strength and power he felt he lacked.

2. Khalid Pehelwan: The Wrestler Turned Protector

The man was a pehelwan to the core.

A champion emerges. Khalid Khan Pacha, a Pathan from Harda, Madhya Pradesh, was a gifted wrestler who defeated the reigning champion Ram Dayal Pehelwan in Bhopal in 1968. He also won the Bharat Kumar title in Delhi, defeating Bashu Dada's favorite wrestler, Varun Mane. Despite his academic background in economics and aspirations to join the police, wrestling defined his early identity.

Drawn to Bombay. Bashu Dada, impressed by Khalid's strength and the defeat of his protégé, offered Khalid a job in Bombay. Seeking opportunity and a chance to see the city, Khalid accepted. He quickly realized Bashu was not a legitimate businessman but a powerful local don involved in smuggling, and the police were surprisingly subservient to him, which disillusioned Khalid about the uniform.

Physical prowess. Khalid's immense physical strength and wrestling skills were legendary. He could effortlessly lift men much heavier than himself, even in his later years. This brute force, combined with agility and strategic thinking learned in the ring, made him a formidable presence, capable of single-handedly taking on multiple armed adversaries in street fights.

3. The Pathan War and Sabir's Tragic End

Nevertheless, that night was a game changer for the Mumbai mafia in so many ways.

Rivalry ignites. Dawood and Sabir's rise challenged the established Pathan hegemony in Dongri, led by cousins Amirzada and Alamzeb. The Pathans, known for moneylending and crime, saw Dawood as a menace. The rivalry escalated after Dawood's friend, journalist Iqbal Natiq, exposed the Pathans, leading to Natiq's brutal murder by Saeed Batla and Ayub Lala, Pathan cronies.

Retaliation and escalation. Dawood and Sabir retaliated by maiming Saeed Batla, an unheard-of act at the time. This marked a new level of violence in the Mumbai underworld. Despite being arrested and bailed, the brothers continued to target the Pathans. The Pathans, in turn, sought to eliminate Dawood, leading to several attempts on his life.

Sabir's murder. The rivalry culminated tragically on 12 February 1981, when Amirzada and Alamzeb ambushed and brutally murdered Sabir Kaskar at a petrol pump. This event was a turning point, marking the commencement of gruesome, boundary-crossing violence in the city. Sabir's death shattered Dawood and propelled him into a relentless quest for vengeance, transforming him from a small-time criminal into a bloodthirsty avenger.

4. Khalid's Unwavering Loyalty Saves Dawood

It was the first time that Khalid had saved Dawood’s life and taken a bullet for him.

First rescue. In October 1980, Amirzada and Alamzeb planned to kill Dawood outside the Nagpada police station, knowing he would be unarmed. Khalid Khan, sensing danger, accompanied Dawood. When Amirzada fired, Khalid pushed Dawood aside, taking a bullet in his arm, and returned fire, saving Dawood's life. This daring act averted certain death for Dawood.

A bond forged in blood. During the chase after the Nagpada shooting, Dawood, Sabir, and Khalid pursued the Pathans. Later, to avoid a police case for stabbing Rashid Taxi, Dawood deliberately cut his own arm to file a cross-complaint. This act of self-sacrifice deeply moved Khalid, solidifying their bond. "The day Dawood shed his own blood was the day he conquered Khalid’s heart."

Constant protection. Khalid consistently acted as Dawood's human shield. He defended Musafir Khana during the Pathan attack that killed Sabir, injuring Amirzada. He also confronted Amirzada and Alamzeb at Santa Cruz Airport when they tried to attack Dawood before his pilgrimage. Khalid's presence of mind and courage repeatedly saved Dawood's life, making him indispensable to Dawood's survival and rise.

5. Bashu Dada's Betrayal Forges a New Alliance

Bashu was unable to explain that he had actually become overcome by jealousy and felt insecure about his protégé’s growing popularity and influence.

Bashu's jealousy. After Khalid joined Bashu Dada, his business acumen and smuggling innovations, particularly in gold and diamonds, catapulted Bashu's gang to new heights. However, Bashu became increasingly jealous and insecure about Khalid's success and growing influence, fearing he would be surpassed by his protégé.

The setup. When a diamond consignment was seized and the investigation led to Bashu, he saw an opportunity to eliminate Khalid as a rival. Bashu deliberately snitched on Khalid, leading the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and police to Khalid's residence. Khalid narrowly escaped arrest due to his habit of eating out.

Confrontation and split. Khalid, realizing Bashu's betrayal, confronted him. Bashu offered a flimsy excuse about protecting himself from COFEPOSA charges. Heartbroken and disillusioned by the treachery of a man he admired and was loyal to, Khalid severed ties with Bashu. This split, though painful for Khalid, removed an obstacle for Dawood and eventually led to Bashu's decline and forced departure from Mumbai after Dawood attacked his turf.

6. Khalid's Smuggling Innovations and Dubai Connections

Khalid was the first bona fide smuggler with properly monitored operations, which he supervised from coast to coast and vessel to vessel.

Strategic thinking. Khalid, with his economics background, saw beyond Bashu's limited focus on silver. He proposed gold smuggling, which offered higher profits with similar overheads. He also envisioned becoming a smuggler, not just a landing agent, to control the entire supply chain and maximize profits.

Galadari partnership. Khalid traveled to Dubai and secured a lucrative partnership with the powerful Galadari brothers, particularly Abdul Wahab Galadari, who were major gold dealers. This alliance gave Khalid and later Dawood direct access to gold consignments from Dubai, bypassing middlemen and establishing a steady supply channel to India.

Innovative methods. Khalid revolutionized smuggling logistics. He devised a method using fishing trawlers to meet speedboats in international waters, transferring gold discreetly before the trawlers returned to Indian shores. This "gold wave" method bypassed the multi-tier surveillance of the Navy, Coast Guard, DRI, and police, making their operations highly successful and giving them a significant edge over rivals.

7. The Rise of the D-Gang Syndicate

After Sabir’s death, the Dawood–Sabir gang decided to coronate Dawood as the chieftain, and the gang was rechristened the ‘D-Gang’.

Consolidating power. Sabir's murder left a void, but it also solidified Dawood's position as the undisputed leader. With Khalid's crucial support, Dawood restructured the gang, renaming it the 'D-Gang'. They capitalized on the vacuum created by the Emergency, which had incarcerated major dons like Haji Mastan and Yusuf Patel.

Corporatizing crime. Khalid introduced a corporate structure to the smuggling syndicate. Investors could contribute funds, and profits were shared, with a portion going to a central syndicate fund used to bribe law enforcement and manage logistics. This model attracted black money holders seeking safe investment during the Emergency crackdown.

Inclusive recruitment. Breaking from traditional mafia structures, Khalid advocated for including Hindus in the gang to make it stronger and more secular. They recruited Hindu boys from Bhopal, Harda, and Mumbai, such as Rama Naik and Babu Reshim, transforming the D-Gang into a formidable, multi-community force that dominated the Mumbai underworld.

8. Dawood's Ruthless Ambition and Strategic Manipulation

Dawood firmly believed that to make an omelette, one needs to break the egg.

Beyond the mentor. While Khalid taught Dawood survival and business, Dawood's ambition and childhood experiences fueled a ruthless drive for money and power. He absorbed Khalid's lessons but discarded values like loyalty when they didn't serve his purpose, influenced by figures like bootlegger-informer Jenabai Daruwali.

Eliminating rivals. Dawood systematically targeted and eliminated rivals, particularly the Pathans, using both his men and corrupt law enforcement. Amirzada and Samad Khan were killed by hitmen, while Alamzeb and Mehmood Kalia died in controversial police encounters. He also orchestrated the downfall of Bashu Dada and challenged Haji Mastan.

Exploiting the system. Dawood cultivated relationships with politicians, police, and customs officials, using bribes and "inside intelligence" to his advantage. He was a pioneer in using technology like phone tapping to spy on his own men and rivals, gaining a strategic edge. His time in Gujarat jail taught him the value of manipulating the system for survival and vengeance.

9. The Amicable Parting of Mentor and Protégé

However, this was the only parting in the Bombay mafia that was amicable and took place without an exchange of a heated word or a foul expletive, leave alone violence.

Mysterious losses. After years of successful smuggling, Khalid's consignments from Galadari began to be consistently intercepted, while Dawood's shipments, often with Pakistani partners, arrived safely. Khalid suspected a systematic betrayal aimed at Galadari and himself, possibly orchestrated by the Pakistani syndicate.

Dawood's suggestion. Amidst these losses, Dawood suggested they dissolve their partnership and operate separately, claiming it would allow them to dominate Bombay together. Khalid, though hurt by the suggestion and suspecting Pakistani influence, saw the writing on the wall, especially after a seventh consecutive seizure confirmed his fears of a leak.

A peaceful farewell. Recognizing the growing divide and potential for conflict, Khalid chose to part ways amicably. Despite the pain of separating from his protégé, he prioritized preserving their friendship over a business partnership plagued by suspicion and losses. This peaceful split was unprecedented in the violent world of the Mumbai mafia. Khalid subsequently left Mumbai and relocated to Dubai.

10. Dawood's Legacy: Power, Deception, and Exile

For Dawood, the world had become a very small place, and he rued all his past mistakes as he pined for his motherland.

Swindling investors. After Khalid's departure, Dawood became the sole leader. He launched a "partnership project" scheme, taking money from numerous investors for large gold consignments. However, he orchestrated fake seizures, reporting massive losses while secretly pocketing the majority of the investment, effectively swindling his own partners.

Uncrowned king. Dawood's ruthless tactics, strategic alliances, and willingness to use deception propelled him to the top of the Mumbai underworld. He eliminated rivals, controlled smuggling routes, and built a vast network of influence. By 1986, he was the undisputed don, forcing him to flee Mumbai just before a major police raid.

Fugitive life. Dawood relocated to Dubai, recreating his empire there. However, the 1993 Bombay serial blasts, orchestrated by Tiger Memon with Dawood's alleged involvement, changed everything. Declared a global fugitive, Dawood was forced to leave Dubai for Karachi, Pakistan. Under the watch of the ISI, his freedom and control diminished, leading him to regret his past actions and yearn for his homeland, a stark contrast to Khalid, who remained safe and free due to his adherence to a different code.

Last updated: May 20, 2025