Mumbai: Salim Dola, a close aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, displayed defiance upon his arrival in Mumbai following his arrest in Turkey, declaring, “No fear. I am not scared,” as he was escorted by officials. His statement came while he was being taken for a medical examination before being produced in court on Thursday.

Dola, considered a key figure in the operations of the infamous D-Company, was brought to the city yesterday by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after being granted a two-day transit remand by a Delhi court.

The arrest marks a major breakthrough for Indian agencies, as Dola had been on the run for several years and was allegedly managing international drug trafficking operations from Turkey. He was held on April 25 in Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district during a coordinated operation involving Indian intelligence and Turkish law enforcement authorities.

Following his arrest, Dola was deported to India and first produced before the Patiala House Court, which approved his transfer to Mumbai for further investigation. Special Public Prosecutor Manish Gupta appeared for the NCB and sought his custody in connection with a 2023 narcotics case registered in Mumbai.

Upon reaching Mumbai yesterday, Dola was taken to the NCB’s zonal office, where he is currently being interrogated. Officials believe he holds critical information about the functioning of D-Company’s global drug network, including smuggling routes across West Asia and Europe and the use of hawala channels to move illicit funds. Investigators are also looking to uncover details about sleeper cells and local distributors linked to the syndicate in Mumbai and surrounding regions.

Dola will be produced before a Mumbai court following initial procedures. His arrest and the later transfer to Delhi and now Mumbai are being seen as a major step in efforts to dismantle transnational organised crime networks with links to India.

Mumbai: In a major breakthrough for Indian intelligence and anti-narcotics agencies, international drug trafficker Salim Dola, a close associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, is set to be brought to Mumbai today after 5 pm following his deportation to India from Turkey.

Dola was brought to India early Tuesday morning as part of a highly confidential and coordinated international operation led by the Narcotics Control Bureau under ‘Operation Global-Hunt.’ He arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on a special aircraft after being detained in Istanbul based on intelligence inputs shared by Indian agencies with foreign authorities.

Upon arrival, he was taken into custody by NCB officials and questioned at the airport. After initial interrogation, officials confirmed that Dola will now be transported to Mumbai later today, where he will be taken to the NCB office for further probe and legal proceedings.

Dola was a key figure in an international drug trafficking syndicate with operations spanning India, Dubai and several other countries. His name has reportedly surfaced in connection with a large-scale synthetic drug racket, raising serious concerns about the extent of the network.

Security agencies suspect that the syndicate has links with the infamous D-Company, indicating a possible nexus between global narcotics cartels and organised crime groups. Dola was earlier active in Mumbai’s Dongri area before allegedly shifting his base to Dubai, from where he is believed to have managed a major drug supply chain targeting India. Officials have also claimed he used a Saudi Arabian passport to facilitate international travel.

The arrest follows sustained action against his network. In October 2025, the Mumbai Crime Branch extradited his close aide Mohammad Salim Sohel Sheikh from Dubai. A month later, four of his family members, including his son Tahir Dola, were also brought to India after being arrested abroad. The NCB had earlier announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his capture, while an Interpol Red Corner Notice had intensified efforts to track him globally.

Dola’s custodial interrogation in Mumbai is expected to yield crucial leads on international drug trafficking routes and could expose deeper links between narcotics syndicates and the underworld network linked to Dawood Ibrahim. Further investigation is underway.

Kolhapur: A disturbing case of alleged sexual exploitation and blackmail has come to light in the Pulachi Shiroli area of Hatkanangale tehsil in the Kolhapur District of Maharashtra, where a 22-year-old man has been arrested for targeting multiple young women.

The accused, Shahid Sameer Sanadi, was arrested after a 20-year-old woman filed a complaint at Rajarampuri Police Station (under the Kolhapur District Police Force) on Sunday night. He was later handed over to Hatkanangale police station and produced before a court, which remanded him to four days of police custody.

According to police, the accused befriended young women aged between 18 and 22 through social media. He allegedly lured them into relationships, assaulted them, and filmed obscene videos. These videos were then used to threaten and blackmail the victims.

Officials believe that more than 15 women may have been targeted in a similar manner. Victims are suspected to be from Shiroli, Hupari, Hatkanangale, and nearby villages.

Police said the accused would call the women to lodges in Shiroli and Kolhapur, where he allegedly committed the crimes and recorded the acts. Investigators also found that some of the videos were shared with others.

A friend of the accused, identified as Shahrukh Desai, is currently absconding. Police suspect he may also have access to videos of several victims. A search is underway to trace him.

The case initially appeared to be an isolated complaint. However, as the investigation progressed, officials uncovered a wider pattern. This has raised concerns that more people could be involved. Police are now probing the possibility of a larger network.

Senior officers are closely monitoring the case. Additional Superintendent of Police Annasaheb Jadhav visited the police station and reviewed the investigation. Authorities have appealed to other possible victims to come forward. They have assured that identities will be kept confidential.

The incident has triggered strong reactions in the area. In protest, local groups have called for a bandh in Shiroli. Several organisations have also demanded strict action and a thorough probe.

The case has drawn attention as similar incidents involving video blackmail have recently been reported in other parts of Maharashtra, including Amravati and Nashik. Police say they are taking the matter seriously and are working to identify all those involved.