Dawood Ibrahim: Alive or Dead? Mumbai's Dongri Could Hold the Key

The film 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' has brought the notorious gangster Dawood Ibrahim back into the spotlight, identifying him as the elusive 'Bade Sahab.' While the movie portrays him as an old, frail, and bedridden figure, the real-world status of Dawood remains a mystery. For years, Dawood has been believed to be hiding in Karachi, Pakistan, under the alleged protection of the ISI, a claim the Pakistani government consistently denies.

Amid this uncertainty, a viral video by investigative journalist Vivek Agrawal has caught widespread attention. Agrawal suggests a unique method to determine whether Dawood is alive or dead: by observing the locality of Dongri in Mumbai. He states, “If you want to find out whether Dawood is alive, dead, or died a painful death due to gangrene, all you need is a car, a cameraman, and yourself – just go straight to Dongri.”

Dongri, a locality in Mumbai, has deep roots with Dawood. It is where he grew up and began his criminal activities. As a teenager, Dawood was involved in theft and fraud. Later, he and his brother Shabir built the D-Company, one of the most feared syndicates in the underworld. In 1986, under increasing pressure from the Mumbai Police, Dawood fled to Dubai, from where he expanded his operations globally.

Agrawal further explains, “If Dongri is functioning normally, Dawood is alive. But if it is shut and there is mourning, with sadness visible on people’s faces, Dawood is dead.” This reasoning is based on the strong connection between Dawood and the residents of Dongri, who would likely show signs of grief if their leader were no longer alive.

In addition to the mystery surrounding Dawood, Agrawal also sheds light on Rehman Dakait, a Pakistani Balochi gangster and politician from Karachi’s Lyari area, portrayed in 'Dhurandhar' by Akshaye Khanna. Agrawal emphasizes the scale of Rehman’s influence, stating, “The kind of stature and dangerous Baloch group that Rehman had, these people never had. I can’t even compare Lyari to Mumbai’s Dongri – the difference is vast.”

Agrawal describes a significant rift between Rehman and Dawood, which began due to a property dispute involving one of Rehman’s relatives. The land was allegedly encroached upon, leading to a confrontation between the two. Agrawal claims, “A relative of Rehman had land that these people had encroached upon… he went to Rehman, who confronted Dawood, but Dawood responded disrespectfully.”

The tension between the two gangsters escalated further when Rehman allegedly kidnapped and killed Noor ul Haq, Dawood’s younger brother, in 2009. Agrawal provides chilling details, saying, “He took him away, tortured him, and made Dawood hear his screams. Dawood even said, ‘take whatever you want but let him go,’ but he did not listen.” Rehman shot Noor six times.

Agrawal also discusses the financial prowess of Dawood Ibrahim, claiming that in terms of wealth, Dawood is far ahead of Rehman Dakait. He estimates that Dawood owns around Rs 20 lakh crore and has a presence in 42 countries, with both legitimate and illegitimate businesses. Agrawal mentions a significant financial loss linked to the now-defunct BCCI (Bank of Credit & Commerce International), where Dawood lost Rs 1,200 crore. This bank was allegedly used by ISI to route funds, and Dawood had also invested in it.

During a podcast, Raj Shamani asked Vivek about the current control of Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums in Mumbai. Agrawal explained that while Dharavi was once dominated by a powerful underworld figure, Vardha Dada, the current control is linked to the network of Chhota Rajan, specifically through a gangster named DK Rao. However, Agrawal noted that DK Rao has been in jail for some time.

The mystery of Dawood Ibrahim’s status remains unsolved, but the activity in Dongri could potentially provide the answer. Whether the gangster is alive or dead, the impact of his legacy on Mumbai’s underworld continues to be felt.