D-Company
Encyclopedia
D-Company is a term coined by the media for the criminal organization and terrorist group headed by wanted terrorist leader and crime boss Dawood Ibrahim
.
Other prominent members of the gang include Chhota Shakeel
, Tiger Memon
and Abu Salem
, who is now in the custody of Indian police. It is closely linked to a range of organized criminal and terrorist activities in South Asia, especially in Mumbai
, India, and the Persian Gulf
region. Several members of the gang are on the "wanted list" of Interpol
and Indian police. The reference to "company" in the name of the organization does not signify that it has a separate corporate identity. The organization has a history of rivalry with the Mumbai police (see Mumbai Encounter Squad
) and other underworld dons such as Chota Rajan, Ejaz Lakdawala
who was arrested in Canada in 2004 and Arun Gawli
.
(RAW) and Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI), D-Company financed the terrorist bombings in Mumbai which killed 257 people in 1993. It is alleged that D-Company planned further terrorist attacks in Gujarat following the extensive riots and violence which occurred there in 2002. D-Company is alleged to run the largest underground business in South Asia. Its operations include arms trafficking, contract killing, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, extortion, and terrorism.
In 2011, Indian intelligence agencies managed to link D-Company with the 2G spectrum scam
, through DB Realty
and DB Etisalat (formerly Swan Telecom) promoted by Shahid Balwa
. Later in March security at CBI headquarters in Delhi was tightened after it had been suggested that D-Company might launch an attack in an attempt to destroy documents relating to the ongoing probe of the 2G spectrum scam.
is based loosely on its activities, as well as its prequel, the 2005 film D
, Shootout at Lokhandwala
(2007) and the 2010 film Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
.
Dawood Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim , also known as Dawood Ebrahim, and Sheikh Dawood Hassan, is the head of the organized crime syndicate [[D-Company]] in Mumbai. He is currently on the wanted list of Interpol for organised crime and counterfeiting. He was No. 4 on the Forbes' World's Top 10 most dreaded criminals...
.
Other prominent members of the gang include Chhota Shakeel
Chhota Shakeel
Chhota Shakeel , is an Indian, accused of association with Dawood Ibrahim.According to old hats, one of his stories which put him in the spotlight was his encounter with the customs officer...
, Tiger Memon
Tiger Memon
Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razak Nadim Memon better known by his nickname Tiger Memon is an Indian gangster and the prime suspect in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case and is wanted by Interpol and the CBI. He is a member of the D-Company gang and is a trusted lieutenant of its leader, Dawood Ibrahim...
and Abu Salem
Abu Salem
Abu Salem is an underworld don originally from Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, India. He is convicted for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and killing of India's music baron Gulshan Kumar in 1997. He has unsuccessfully attempted to kill Bollywood film directors Rajiv Rai and Rakesh Roshan....
, who is now in the custody of Indian police. It is closely linked to a range of organized criminal and terrorist activities in South Asia, especially in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India, and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
region. Several members of the gang are on the "wanted list" of Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
and Indian police. The reference to "company" in the name of the organization does not signify that it has a separate corporate identity. The organization has a history of rivalry with the Mumbai police (see Mumbai Encounter Squad
Mumbai Encounter Squad
The Mumbai Encounter Squad was an unofficial group within the police force of Mumbai, which killed criminals in "encounters".It consisted of several high-profile officers from the Detection Unit. The squad primarily dealt with members of the Mumbai underworld and other criminal gangs and carried...
) and other underworld dons such as Chota Rajan, Ejaz Lakdawala
Ejaz Lakdawala
Ejaz Lakdawala is one of the most wanted gangsters from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.In May 2003, he was rumored to have been killed when Dawood's gang-members, also known as D-Company, angered by his allegiance to Chota Rajan, opened fire at him in a crowded market in Bangkok...
who was arrested in Canada in 2004 and Arun Gawli
Arun Gawli
Arun Gulab Gawli , known to his followers as "Daddy", is an alleged criminal turned politician from Mumbai, India. He is based at Dagdi Chawl in Byculla- Saat Rasta, Mumbai...
.
History
There are a number of allegations against the organization, such as that it generates billions of US dollars from illegal business activities around the globe, especially in India. The Indian government believes that Dawood Ibrahim and his associates fund and support terrorist activities in the country. According to Indian intelligence agencies, such as the Research and Analysis WingResearch and Analysis Wing
The Research and Analysis Wing is India's external intelligence agency. It was formed in September 1968 after the poor performance of the Intelligence Bureau in the Sino-Indian war of 1962 and the India-Pakistani war of 1965 convinced the then government of India that a specialized, independent...
(RAW) and Central Bureau of Investigation
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
(CBI), D-Company financed the terrorist bombings in Mumbai which killed 257 people in 1993. It is alleged that D-Company planned further terrorist attacks in Gujarat following the extensive riots and violence which occurred there in 2002. D-Company is alleged to run the largest underground business in South Asia. Its operations include arms trafficking, contract killing, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, extortion, and terrorism.
In 2011, Indian intelligence agencies managed to link D-Company with the 2G spectrum scam
2G spectrum scam
The 2G spectrum scandal involved officials in the government of India illegally undercharging mobile telephony companies for frequency allocation licenses, which they would use to create 2G subscriptions for cell phones...
, through DB Realty
DB Realty
DB Realty is one of India's largest real estate developer based in Mumbai, and is the flagship company of DB Group DB Realty Limited builds residential, commercial and gated community developments...
and DB Etisalat (formerly Swan Telecom) promoted by Shahid Balwa
Shahid Balwa
Shahid Usman Balwa is an entrepreneur based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is one of the Promoters of Mumbai-based DB Group which runs DB Realty India's 3rd largest realtor, DB Hospitality and Swan Telecom .-Early life:...
. Later in March security at CBI headquarters in Delhi was tightened after it had been suggested that D-Company might launch an attack in an attempt to destroy documents relating to the ongoing probe of the 2G spectrum scam.
In popular culture
At times, D-Company has been linked to the Bollywood film industry, as well as real estate and betting businesses, from which it is said to derive considerable revenue. The 2002 film CompanyCompany (film)
Company is a 2002 Indian film directed by Ram Gopal Varma and written by Jaideep Sahni, starring Ajay Devgan, Mohanlal, Manisha Koirala, Vivek Oberoi,and Antara Mali. It is a fictional exposé of the Mumbai underworld, loosely based on the Indian mafia organization D-Company, known to be run by...
is based loosely on its activities, as well as its prequel, the 2005 film D
D (film)
D is an Indian crime drama and thriller film, directed by Vishram Sawant, written by Manish Gupta, and produced by Ram Gopal Varma and Ronnie Screwvala. It was released in India on June 3, 2005....
, Shootout at Lokhandwala
Shootout at Lokhandwala
Shootout at Lokhandwala is a 2007 Hindi feature film directed by Apoorva Lakhia. It is based upon the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout, a real-life gun battle between gangsters and Mumbai Police....
(2007) and the 2010 film Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
Once Upon A Time In Mumbai
Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai is a 2010 Bollywood crime drama film directed by Milan Luthria and produced by Ekta Kapoor. It stars Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai, and Kangana Ranaut. The film, produced by Balaji Telefilms, was released on 30 July 2010.-Plot:The film opens with a suicide...
.
See also
- Central Bureau of InvestigationCentral Bureau of InvestigationThe Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
(CBI) - Gang wars between Chota Rajan and Dawood IbrahimGang wars between Chota Rajan and Dawood IbrahimRajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje , was the sword arm of don Dawood Ibrahim till the two parted ways over the latter’s role in the Bombay blasts. Differences had arisen in 1992 itself after Dawood henchman Subhash Thakur killed three Chhota Rajan groupies...
- Indian mafiaIndian mafiaThe term Indian mafia refers to certain criminal organizations found in some of India's major cities. The "Indian Mafia" also refer to powerful families that have criminal aspects to it.- Mumbai underworld :...
- Indian Police ServiceIndian Police ServiceThe Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
- Research and Analysis WingResearch and Analysis WingThe Research and Analysis Wing is India's external intelligence agency. It was formed in September 1968 after the poor performance of the Intelligence Bureau in the Sino-Indian war of 1962 and the India-Pakistani war of 1965 convinced the then government of India that a specialized, independent...
- TADATadaTada is a town on the Chennai-Nellore highway, just over from Chennai, India and from Tirupathi. It is located in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh and is about north of the Andhra Pradesh border. This place is the exact border of the Andhra Pradesh.Its nearest major railway station is Tada and...
External links
- Flonnet.com, "'D' Company on the run?" FrontLine magazine report, volume 20, issue 04, February 15–28, 2003
- HindustanTimes.com, Godfather III: The Terrorist
- OutlookIndia.com, Indian Mafia, their Ties, Updates and Experts' Opinions