D-Company

2021-06-16T11:23:27Z

2405:204:921B:A710:FE35:437D:5D23:AE16: /* History */

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2013}}
{{short description|Indian criminal organization}}
{{Infobox criminal organization
| name = D-Company
| image = 
| image_size = 
| caption =
| founded = 1970s
| founder = [[Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar]]<ref>https://www.efsas.org/publications/articles-by-efsas/dawood-ibrahim-%E2%80%93-convergence-of-crime-and-terrorism/</ref><br>[[Dawood Ibrahim]]
| named_after = Dawood Ibrahim
| founding_location = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| years_active = 1970s{{ndash}}present
| territory = [[Asia]]
| leaders = Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar (deceased), Dawood Ibrahim
| allies =
| rivals = [[Chhota Rajan]], [[Ejaz Lakdawala]], [[Arun Gawli]]
| notable_members = Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar, Dawood Ibrahim, [[Chhota Shakeel]], [[Tiger Memon]], [[Yakub Memon]], [[Abu Salem]], Fazlur Rahman(Fazal Sheikh)
| criminal activities = [[Mumbai underworld]], [[Indian mafia]], [[Pakistani mafia]], [[murder]], [[extortion]], [[targeted killing]], [[drug trafficking]], [[terrorism]], multiple bombings,<ref name=Interpol>{{cite web |title=Shaikh, Dawood Hasan |publisher=[[Interpol]] |url=http://www.interpol.int/Wanted-Persons/%28wanted_id%29/1993-14193 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212010010/http://www.interpol.int/Wanted-Persons/(wanted_id)/1993-14193 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 December 2012 |access-date=30 December 2012 }}</ref> alleged involvement in [[1993 Mumbai bombings]]
}}
'''D-Company''' is a name coined by the [[Indian media]] for the [[Mumbai underworld]] [[Organized crime|organized criminal]] syndicate founded and controlled by [[Dawood Ibrahim]], an [[Indian mafia]] boss, [[drug dealer]] and wanted [[terrorist]]. In 2011, Ibrahim, along with his D-Company, was number three on the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s "The World's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives" list.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/2011/06/14/most-wanted-fugitives_slide_4.html "Dawood 4th 'most wanted' criminal on Forbes list"]. ''The Times of India''. (29 April 2008). Retrieved 16 April 2012.</ref>

==Overview==
[[Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar]]<ref>https://www.efsas.org/publications/articles-by-efsas/dawood-ibrahim-%E2%80%93-convergence-of-crime-and-terrorism/</ref> and Dawood Ibrahim established a criminal syndicate in 1970s India.<ref>{{cite news |title=1993 Mumbai blasts |author=Husain, F.| date=1993-03-12|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5337210.stm |newspaper=BBC News}}</ref>

Other prominent members of the gang include [[Chhota Shakeel]], [[Tiger Memon]],<ref>http://www.firstpost.com/india/its-official-again-ahead-of-nsa-talks-fresh-photo-passport-copy-of-dawood-confirm-hes-in-pakistan-2403302.html</ref> [[Yakub Memon]] (linked), [[Abu Salem]] and Fazlur Rahman (Fazal Sheikh). The organization has a history of rivalry with the [[Mumbai police]] and other underworld dons such as [[Chhota Rajan]], [[Ejaz Lakdawala]], who was arrested in Canada in 2004, and [[Arun Gawli]].

==History==
In the 1970s, Dawood Ibrahim worked for a local smuggler named Bashu Dada. Bashu Dada had a close friendship with Dawood's father, who was a police . His father wielded immense clout among the gangsters and common people due to his sense of morality and justice, while also being a part of the Crime Branch. However, Bashu Dada and Dawood had a falling-out after Bashu Dada insulted the latter's father. In 1976, Dawood – along with seven of his close friends and his elder brother [[Shabir Ibrahim Kaskar]] – attacked Basu Dada with empty soda bottles, a first in the history of gang warfare in Bombay.

After this incident Bashu Dada's key enforcer Khalid Pehlwan persuaded Dawood to start his smuggling operations, which led to the formation of the D Company. Dawood and his elder brother Shabir, with the help of Khalid Pehlwan, began their smuggling operations. This ultimately led them to clash with the Pathan gang, the most influential gang in Mumbai at the time. By 1986, D Company had eliminated most of the Pathan gang leadership, emerging as the dominant gang in Mumbai.

In 1993, D-Company associates were involved in [[1993 Bombay bombings]]. Few have been jailed for it.

In 1997, D-Company former member Abu Salem and Fazlur Rahman was responsible for the murder of [[Super Cassettes Industries T-Series|T-Series]] founder and [[Bollywood music]] producer [[Gulshan Kumar]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Mafia Calls The Shots|journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|date=25 August 1997|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-mafia-calls-the-shots/204098}}</ref>

In 2011, Indian intelligence agencies managed to link Dawood Company with the [[2G spectrum case]], 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 case.<ref>{{cite news |title=2G: Dawood planning to attack CBI HQ? |url=http://www.zeenews.com/news695021.html |publisher=[[Zee News]]|date= 23 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dawood threat to CBI over 2G probe? |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-23/india/29177758_1_swan-telecom-spectrum-scam-2g |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405212225/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-23/india/29177758_1_swan-telecom-spectrum-scam-2g |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 April 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=23 March 2011 }}</ref>

In 2015, a US Congressional report alleged that the D-Company was a "5,000-member criminal syndicate operating mostly in Pakistan, India, and the United Arab Emirates," which has a "strategic alliance" with [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] and has "forged relationships with [[Islamist]]s, including [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] and [[al-Qaida]]." However, the report had no political implications, and was mainly to brief lawmakers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dawood-is-a-terrorist-has-strategic-alliance-with-ISI-says-US/articleshow/5418149.cms|title=Dawood is a terrorist, has 'strategic alliance' with ISI, says US |work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>

In 2018, Dr Louise Shelley, Professor at the [[George Mason University]], stated that the D-Company was now mainly based in Pakistan and had diversified its assets like Mexican drug organisations.<ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/dawood-ibrahims-d-company-has-diversified-us-lawmakers-told/articleshow/63425953.cms?from=mdr Dawood Ibrahim's D-company has diversified, US lawmakers told], ''Indiatimes.com'', 23 March 2018 (accessed on 30 July 2019)</ref>

Dawood was also wire-taped by Indian investigators who found out he had real estate assets in Dubai under someone else's name.<ref>Arvind Ojha, Divyesh Singh, [https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/dawood-ibrahim-d-company-business-empire-1208242-2018-04-09 Caught on tape: How underworld don Dawood Ibrahim manages his business empire], ''Indiatoday.in'', 9 April 2018 (accessed on 30 July 2019)</ref>

==In popular culture==
At times, Dawood 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 ''[[Company (2002 film)|Company]]'' is based loosely on its activities, as well as its sequel (prequel to the storyline) ''[[D (film)|D]]'' (2005), ''[[Shootout at Lokhandwala]]'' (2007), and ''[[Once Upon a Time in Mumbai]]'' (2010).<ref name=em>{{cite web |title=Akshay to play dreaded don Dawood? |url=http://www.emirates247.com/entertainment/films-music/akshay-to-play-dreaded-don-dawood-2011-03-07-1.364805 |date=7 March 2011|publisher=Emirates247 }}</ref> The 2013 film ''[[Shootout at Wadala]]'' is based on the rise of the D-Company. It also features in Salman Rushdie's 2018 novel ''The Golden House'', where it is called Z-Company.

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Law}}
* [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI)
* [[Indian mafia]]
* [[Indian Police Service]]
* [[Research and Analysis Wing]]
* [[Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://materiaislamica.com/index.php/%27D%27_Company_(Indian_Mafia_Crime_Syndicate) A History of D-Company, It's Businesses and Their 10 Billion Dollar Empire]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071022174950/http://flonnet.com/fl2004/stories/20030228003910800.htm Flonnet.com], "'D' Company on the run?" ''FrontLine'' magazine report, volume 20, issue 04, 15–28 February 2003
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141108074338/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1544569,00300001.htm HindustanTimes.com], Godfather III: The Terrorist
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070808222156/http://www.outlookindia.com/dossiersind.asp?id=542 OutlookIndia.com], Indian Mafia, their Ties, Updates and Experts' Opinions

[[Category:D-Company| ]]
[[Category:1970s establishments in India]]
[[Category:Organizations established in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Organised crime groups in India]]
[[Category:Organised crime groups in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Terrorism in India]]
[[Category:1993 Bombay bombings]]
[[Category:Crime in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Crime in the United Arab Emirates]]

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D-Company