Crime
Dawood wants the fear back, D-Gang sets up extortion cells to revive underworld clout
New Delhi, Oct 20: Even as mafia don Dawood Ibrahim continues to enjoy the hospitality offered to him by Pakistan, fears of an underworld resurgence in India are cropping up.
The Dawood Ibrahim syndicate is in desperate need of attention, and this has made them scale up extortion threats in various parts of the country.
The fear of Dawood had died down considerably, and this had led to a lull in operations, especially in Maharashtra, the main hub of the syndicate.
Intelligence Bureau officials say that the D-Gang thrived on fear, but now with that factor down, the syndicate is finding it hard to operate.
Dawood Ibrahim, who thrives on the narcotics business, is feeling the heat after the Indian government launched an all-out war against the drug mafia. There have been scores of busts in recent months, and the D-Gang has been facing huge losses.
Police officials probing cases relating to the gang say that since the number of drug busts has gone up considerably, the Dawood network is losing grip.
This has also resulted in the number of recruits going down drastically. The charm of joining the underworld has died down a lot, and this is hurting Dawood and his network. In order to operate seamlessly in India, the gang is in need of more members who could carry out the drug business. There is a massive shortage of manpower, and this is hampering operations largely.
Officials say that the Dawood gang does not seem powerful any longer. The clout within the police, political and Bollywood circles is dying. This is largely to do with the fact that the operations that the gang has been carrying out in recent times are dying down.
Hence, Dawood and his cronies in Pakistan decided to re-strategise. It was decided to slow down the drug business temporarily until they can recruit many more into their fold. The idea now is to run an abduction and extortion racket. This would not only bring in the money, but the fear of the underworld would return.
The gang has decided to indulge in high-profile abductions and then seek ransom.
Further, it was also decided to set up extortion cells in different parts of the country and seek money.
Officials say that this is not so much about the money. The D-Gang has ample money, but feels that the fear factor is not there. It wants to bring back those days when the underworld was thriving in the 1980s. At that time, many were impressed with the manner in which the underworld worked. The very fact that fear could be driven into the minds of the people itself was a caveat for the youngsters to join the underworld.
Hence, it was decided by the D-Gang, based in Karachi, to set up as many extortion cells as possible across the country. The biggest focus of the gang while setting up these cells would be in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is tracking these cells. Recently, the Crime Branch busted one such gang that was being operated at the behest of Dawood Ibrahim. This cell was being handled by Sajid Electricwala and his associate Shabbir Siddiqui. Last week, too the a case came to light where the D-Gang had demanded Rs 5 crore from cricketer Rinku Singh. The cricketer’s team has been receiving threats on a regular basis, demanding extortion money.
In another case, Zeeshan Siddiqui, the son of slain NCP leader Baba Siddiqui, had received threats demanding a ransom of Rs 10 crore. Two accused, Mohammad Dilshad and Mohammed David, were arrested in Trinidad and Tobago with the help of Interpol. The case too was linked to the Dawood network.
These rising incidents are a clear sign that Dawood Ibrahim wants to bring the underworld back in India. In order to do so, he is setting up extortion cells with the intention of creating fear and panic in the minds of the people.
Crime
Police to grill ex-soldier in Secunderabad armoury heist case

Hyderabad, Sep 13: A court in Telangana’s Secunderabad has sent former army NCO Upputholla Mallesh to police custody for seven days in connection with the theft of firearms and ammunition from the 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment’s armoury in Bolarum.
Police will take the accused into custody on Monday for further interrogation in the sensational case, sources said on Sunday.
The investigators will grill Mallesh further on the basis of information provided by him during the preliminary questioning after his arrest.
Mallesh, 37, had allegedly committed the theft on the intervening night of August 30 and 31. The police had announced the arrest of Mallesh on September 11. The same day, he was sent to judicial custody for 14 days and lodged at Chanchalguda Central Prison.
Telangana Police will also share details to be gathered during the questioning with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Army authorities for further investigation.
Telangana Director General of Police C. V. Anand had stated at the press conference on Friday that prima facie, Mallesh acted alone in committing the offence. He, however, had said that police were continuing the investigation into the possible role of others.
During police custody, investigators are likely to elicit information from Mallesh if he was helped by anyone in committing the offence and if he handed over weapons to others for hiding.
The DGP had announced that the entire cache of arms and ammunition stolen from Kote & Magazine of 20 Battalion, Madras Regiment was recovered.
Bollarum police, along with Hyderabad Task Force and SOT Malkajgiri Commissionerate, had arrested Mallesh in a joint operation.
The intention behind the theft preliminarily appears to be disgruntlement out of early retirement from service, the DGP had said.
Hailing from Nagarkurnool district, Mallesh joined the Indian Army in 2010 and worked for 16 years before retirement from service on June 30, 2026, on the grounds of indiscipline
and poor health.
After thorough investigation, police had zeroed in on Mallesh, a native of Jangareddypalle village of Nagarkurnool district who was staying with family at Balajinagar in Secunderabad Cantonment. His movements since August 27 and on the day of the offence were suspicious and did not match what he was saying.
Investigations revealed that on August 27, 28 and 29, he had gone to the area on a recce of the arms depository. On the night of August 30, he broke the lock of the arms and ammunition stores and carried the stolen cache on his bike and later transported the same in his car to Nagarkurnool district, where he hid it near his house.
The stolen arms and ammunition included four AK-203 assault rifles along with five magazines, an INSAS rifle with three magazines, six 9 mm pistols along with 12 magazines, one civil 6.35-bore pistol along with a magazine, one passive night-vision binocular, 1,156 rounds of ammunition of 9mm pistol, 720 rounds of AK-203 ammunition, 11 ball, 5 tracer and 20 blank rounds of 5.56 mm INSAS ammunition.
Crime
Two snatchers, receiver arrested in Delhi; gold earring snatching case solved within 24 hours

New Delhi, Sep 13: A team of Mansarovar Park police in the national capital has arrested two alleged snatchers and a receiver of stolen property in a gold earring snatching case, with the cops claiming to have solved the case within 24 hours of the incident.
A motorcycle allegedly used in the commission of the crime has also been recovered.
According to the Shahdara district police, a PCR call regarding the snatching was received at Mansarovar Park police station on September 9. The complainant, identified as Guddi Devi, told police that she was travelling on a motorcycle with her nephew when two men riding a bike approached them from behind as they were crossing Durgapuri Flyover.
The pillion rider allegedly snatched a gold earring from her left ear, following which both men fled towards Durgapuri.
During the probe, police examined the complainant, inspected the spot and prepared a site plan. Investigators also analysed CCTV footage from the area and obtained clear images of the alleged accused along with the registration number of the motorcycle used in the crime.
The motorcycle was traced to its registered owner, Meenakshi, who told police that it was being used by her brother Puneet. Police subsequently apprehended Puneet from his residence and recovered the motorcycle at his instance.
During interrogation, Puneet allegedly disclosed his involvement with his associate Vikas alias Puchchi. Vikas was subsequently apprehended from the Nand Nagri bus stand. Both were arrested, and the court granted one-day police custody remand.
Police said further interrogation led to the identification of Arjun as the alleged receiver. According to police, Puneet and Vikas disclosed that they had sold the stolen gold earring to Arjun near Tahirpur Gurudwara for around Rs 8,000.
Arjun was traced and questioned. Police said he admitted purchasing the earring for Rs 8,000 and later selling it for approximately Rs 10,500 to an unidentified person in B-Block, Nand Nagri. As the stolen property was no longer in his possession, Arjun was arrested following due legal procedure.
Police said efforts are underway to identify the subsequent purchaser and recover the stolen gold earring.
The arrested persons have been identified as Puneet, 23, a resident of Nand Nagri; Vikas alias Puchchi, 38, also of Nand Nagri; and Arjun, 36, a resident of Nand Nagri.
According to police, the accused have also been linked to three other cases registered at Police Station Mansarovar Park under relevant provisions of the BNS.
Police said Puneet has one previous criminal involvement, while Vikas alias Puchchi has more than 17 previous criminal involvements in cases related to robbery, snatching, theft and the Arms Act. He is also an active Bad Character (BC) of Police Station Nand Nagri.
Crime
Bengal man arrested for sexually assaulting minor daughter

Kolkata, Sep 12: A man in West Bengal South 24 Parganas district has been arrested for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter, police said on Saturday.
According to the police, the elder daughter had filed a complaint against her father with the Baruipar police. She claimed that she left home due to sexual assault, which she was subjected to by her father, and alleged that he was doing the same to her younger sister. Based on that complaint, officers of Baruipur Women Police Station have arrested the accused.
According to the police, the arrested person is a hawker by profession.
Allegedly, in December last year, the accused’s elder daughter was subjected to physical abuse. She left home in anger and fear. The younger daughter alleged that her father’s misbehaviour was not resolved even after she informed her mother. The mother kept quiet even after knowing everything.
It is alleged that after the elder daughter left home, the father continued to sexually assault the younger daughter. The ‘victim’ claimed that this had been happening for the past few months. She said that there was no situation to tell anyone. She spoke to her sister on the phone. After that, both sisters informed their mother. Even after that, the mother remained silent and refused to accept their allegations.
Incidentally, the accused’s elder daughter called 100 and informed the police about the matter. Based on that, officers of Baruipur Women Police Station arrested the accused from the Kulpi Road area last night. A case has been registered against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Police have applied for his custody to investigate the matter further.
“Based on the complaint by the daughter, the father has been arrested. We will seek his custody to interrogate him further. Investigation is on, and all the allegations are being looked into,” a senior officer of Baruipur Police District said.
-
Crime4 years agoClass 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra2 years agoFalse photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 years agoMinistry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMaharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News2 years agoJ&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime2 years agoBaba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
