Mumbai Underworld:

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BACKGROUND GUIDE

Mafia 2002

University of Virginia

International Relations Organization

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Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

Welcome Letter

Hello delegates! My name is Ashna Contractor and I am a second year international student from Mumbai, India. Im studying politics and psychology here at UVA. I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of VICS XVII and have the opportunity to chair this wonderful committee! Im going to work hard to make this conference a great experience for all of you. Though this is the first time that I will be chairing a committee in college, I have been involved in with MUN since I was in 8 grade back in high school in India. Ever since my first interaction, I have only grown more and more fond and passionate about MUN. Last semester I was on the secretariat for UVAs high school conference VAMUN XXXI and I had a fantastic time. I got to experience the aspects of administration and organization that go into making such a conference possible. Most importantly, I became active in UVAs International Relations Organization that has given me the opportunity to be more involved with the things I love like foreign affairs and debating. The Mumbai Underworld Mafia committee is one that is obviously very close to my heart and something that I am extremely interested in. The Mumbai Underworld is a very important and powerful component of organized crime in India. Though its activities are secretive, the more power the Mafia gains, the more bold they become in their acts and involvements. The influence of the Mafia ranges all the way from politics to Bollywood. Both running this committee and participating in it is going to be a thrilling experience. Exploring this domain of India and specifically the city of Mumbai is going to be nothing but fascinating. I look forward to meeting all of you soon! But in the meantime, if you have any questions at all please feel free to email me at: ac4tz@virginia.edu. Ashna Contractor 1
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Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

Haji Mastan was the first don to build close ties with Bollywood. He financed

History of Mumbai Underworld The Mumbai underworld has a rather lengthy and action-packed history. The city has been largely controlled by the power and activities of prominent dons since the 1950s. Ayub lala is known to be the first major underworld don. He controlled gambling clubs, drug cartels and spurious liquor dens within the city of Mumbai. He was succeeded by his son, Kashmiri lala who was later succeeded by Karim lala. Karim lala was popular for his heavy involvement in activities such as smuggling of gold and silver and extortion rackets over and above the already existent gambling clubs, liquor dens and drug cartels. Karim lala, Varadarajan Mudliar and Haji Mastan grew in power and influence as dons. They became the trio that controlled the Mumbai underworld until the late 1980s.

and produced a number of films, became friendly with actors and even courted some actresses. Dawood Ibrahim succeeded him. Dawood Ibrahim grew to become one of the most powerful dons in Mumbais underworld. He formed his criminal organization, D-Company that controls a great deal of the hawala system (a system of transferring illegal/black money away from official agencies and possibly out of the country) in the country. He is also heavily involved in the trade of drugs and narcotics. Most importantly, Dawood is believed to be the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai Bomb blasts. Thus the links of the underworld to weapons trade and international terrorism came to light. As a result of these blasts, D-Company got split. Chota Rajan, initially an accomplice of Dawood, defected and formed his own gang. This gang had the support of Hindu fundamentalists in the city.

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But the dons of Mumbai dont end here. In the years leading up to 2002, a number of other names come into the picture. Some of these include Arun Gawli, Anees Ibrahim, Abu Salem, Tiger Memon, Amar Naik and Ashwin Naik. Over the years Mumbai has seen the growth of a number of dons, gangs and illegal underworld activities. The year 2002, in which this committee is set, sees the underworld still having a huge impact on the happenings of the city. Their activities have become more widespread and international in nature. Bollywood The Hindi film industry or Bollywood has become one of the most powerful, wealthy and influential domains in Activities of the underworld Hawala Hawala is a term used for the illegal transfer of black money. It is one of the major activities that the underworld is involved in. They use their contacts and resources to transport their black money popular Indian culture. It earns and spends huge amounts of money and houses the countrys most influential people. However today Bollywood has become quite an international phenomenon. It has an impact not only in India but abroad as well. Mumbai is to Bollywood what L.A. is to Hollywood. It is where all the big movie stars, directors, and producers live. It is also the city where all the money lies. Therefore it is the house of major crime as well. The presence of large amounts of money along with rich and influential people is exactly what attracts the underworld to Bollywood and the city of Mumbai. The Indian people idolize Bollywood stars. The movies and the actors are representative of the culture of the nation and its diversity. Within the film industry one can see the growth of dynasties, groups and rivalries. These give the industry a very interesting dynamic.

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

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from one place to another, both outside the nation and within it. The underworld also receives clients that ask them to perform hawala transactions. A person who may possess large amounts of black money can approach an underworld don. This don will then carry out the transaction or transfer as requested. Liquor Dens Liquor dens for the Mumbai underworld are essentially places where alcohol is illegally manufactured, produced and distributed. This alcohol production takes place locally and is referred to as desi daaru in slang. The sale of this alcohol also proves to be a significant source of income for the dons. Liquor dens are dangerous not only for the illicit manufacturing of alcohol but also the quality and content of the alcohol. There have been a number of cases of methane poisoning from consumers of such alcohol. These dons are largely responsible for the smuggling and illegal possession of weapons. There has been a connection between Bollywood and the underworld

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

Drug Cartels The business of production, distribution and selling of drugs is popular among the underworld. It earns the dons large amounts of money and also builds their international network in terms of trade in other items. Smuggling and Illegal weapons trade Smuggling and illicit weapons trade can be considered one of the most important activities carried out by the Mumbai underworld. It is this trade that has built the international network and terrorist links for the Mumbai underworld. International dons and terrorist groups are interested in using the Mumbai underworld to facilitate their objectives. Muslim dons may link up with Islamic terrorist groups in the belief that they are fighting for the same cause. The effects of this can be the seen from the 1993 blats for which Dawood Ibrahim and his DCompany were responsible.

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on this front. Actors have been caught with the possession of illegal weapons in a number of cases. In most of these cases, it is suspected that the weapons were acquired from the underworld. Actors thought that they could use these weapons for self-protection while dons found a safe hiding spot for their illicit arms. Links between the underworld and international terrorist groups are extremely dangerous for the city of Mumbai and therefore highly feared by the police and the government. Underworld and Bollywood connection The ties between Bollywood and the underworld are no secret. The underworld has a great deal of influence on the production of movies and the activities of actors. Underworld dons have financed Bollywood a significant films. The number of connections Actors and producers require large amounts of money to finance their films. Through their various means of threats and blackmail, these dons make their way into the business of Bollywood. They use their black money to finance these high budget films and then reap all the profits that the film makes. The dons are thus able to get rid of their large sums of black money and earn clean money in return. This is how the relationship between the underworld and Bollywood began. Celebrities that refuse to comply with these dons are threatened with extortion, For years now, the underworld has used the Indian film industry as a means to money launder. Through their various crimes of extortion, gambling, illicit trade and kidnappings etc, these dons earn large amounts of black money. Consequently, the dons are always on the lookout to white wash this money by putting it into big projects so as to make the money seem legitimate. It is here that Bollywood comes into the picture.

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

between Bollywood and the mafia is not news to the media, the police, the government or the common people.

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murder or kidnap. Many famous

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

become a part of a number of activities that the dons make them do. The stars are threatened into carrying out these activities and often it is also their only way of getting rid of their debt. The relationship however becomes a lot more complex.

Bollywood names have felt this pressure from the underworld. Preity Zinta, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Rakesh Roshan and Aishwarya Rai are some such examples. Dons like Dawood Ibrahim and others also used threats of extortion to obtain money. Rich members of the film industry would be targeted and coerced into meeting the mafias demands. The relationship grew further and

Over the years the relationship between the underworld and Bollywood stars has become rather mutual. They both benefit from each other and some have even become friends. In the past, Indian cinema has also seen examples of film actresses getting into relationships and even marrying these underworld dons. Chotta Shakeel is known to be the don who is famous among the Indian film stars. He has ties with many celebrities, a number of who have been seen and reported meeting him. Case studies Salman Khan

became more dangerous when problems arose with the films. If a don has provided huge sums of money to finance a film, and the film does not do well then the don is at a loss. However, the makers and actors of the movie become indebted to the dons. They receive further threats and get into a highly dangerous situation. In this manner they are dragged into the illegal activities of the underworld and then find it difficult to get out. Once these stars become indebted to the underworld, they get involved and

Salman Khan is the one of the biggest and most popular film stars of

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Bollywood. Allegations about his ties with the underworld began with his 2001 film

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

like Abu Salem, Dawood Ibrahim and his brother Anees Ibrahim. He uses the help of the powerful bhais in Bombay to finance his films and keep him protected. With this relationship, even the dons found it beneficial to maintain their ties with Dutt. In 1993, Sanjay Dutt was charged with the illegal possession of weapons and arrested in April for the same. He received these weapons from Dawood Ibrahim and his men who asked him to keep it safe and hidden in his house. It was the possession of these weapons that made Sanjay Dutt allegedly involved in the 1993 blasts. With this, his tryst with the underworld came out in the open. He suffered multiple charges and arrests with regards to this. After spending two years in jail, Dutt was released on bail in October 1995. However he was arrested again in December 1995 and re-released in April 1997.

Chori Chori Chupke Chupke that was

allegedly funded by the underworld. In 2002, while the police claims that underworld involvement and threats of extortion in Bollywood have reduced considerably, Salman Khan informed them that he had received threats from the mafia. He thus sought for an arms license for self -protection. After they starred together in the 1999 blockbuster movie Hum Dil De Chuke

Sanam, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai

started dating. When they broke up in the beginning of 2002, the controversy surrounding their break up apparently had to do with Rais disapproval of Salman Khans links with the underworld. Sanjay Dutt Popular actor Sanjay Dutt is infamous for his close ties with the underworld. Dutt is known to have become friends and maintained a close relationship with dons

Rakesh Roshan Former actor Rakesh Roshan is now a well reputed movie director and producer in Bollywood. With the release

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of his movie Kaho Na Pyaar Hai in 2001, Rakesh Rohan admitted that he was threatened to pay Abu Salem, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim, Rs. 10 crores to ensure the smooth and successful release of the film. There was a great deal of pressure on Roshan with this film because it was his son Hrithik Roshans debut. Rakesh Roshan chose to ignore these threats that resulted in a near death experience. He was shot at by the dons and was badly injured. He was lucky to survive. Major Gangs and Rivalries Gang wars and rivalries form a major part of the Mumbai underworld scene. While the rivalries have emanated from issues of the past, presently they are squabbles for dominance over regions within the city, jobs and contracts in organized crime. With this act of terrorism it became

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

scene in the 1990s as the biggest and most powerful don. Him and his many followers (Chhota Rajan, Chhota Shakeel, Tiger Memon, Abu Salem etc) formed the D-Company. As time passed, the gang grew in power and relevance. They became proficient in activities of extortion, contract killing, smuggling and terrorism. The turning point however, came in 1993. Along with his brother Anees Ibrahim and other members of DCompany, Dawood masterminded the 1993 Bombay Bomb blasts. This act of terrorism had disastrous consequences. Hundreds of innocent civilians were injured and killed. The blasts were carried out as a Muslim retaliation to the demolition of the Babri Mosque, HinduMuslim riots and general Muslim dissatisfaction in the city.

I. How the gangs were formed

After the reign of Haji Mastan, Karim Lala and Varadarajan Mudliar came to and end, Dawood Ibrahim came into the

evident that Dawood and D-Company identified themselves as the Muslim underworld and considered themselves protectors of the Indian Muslims. Soon

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Islamic terrorism became a large part of their purpose. However, a number of non-Muslim members of the gang did not take this very well. The most important member, Chhota Rajan was infuriated by the 1993 blasts. Major differences arose between him and Dawood that eventually led to a split in the gang. Chhota Rajan went on to form his own gang. He wanted him and his gang to be representative of the Hindu Underworld. The formation of this opposing gang led to the bloodiest gang wars that Mumbai has ever seen. Chhota Rajans gang killed a number of members of D-Company in retaliation to the blasts and vice versa. Chhota Rajans gang came to view themselves as the protectors of the Hindus against the Muslim underworld and their terrorism. They wished to pursue a more patriotic path and believed that a Hindu Underworld would be better than a Muslim one. This gang became especially close with the Based on this, a large part of the rivalry is regionally based. Over the years, different dons have established their dominance Power rivalry and competition dominates the underworld scene in Mumbai in 2002. Each gang is trying to pull the other down and up themselves. This includes constant belonging threats to to specific people and opposing gangs The formation of these two distinct gangs changed the dynamic of the Mumbai Underworld significantly. The struggle for power and dominance over the city was never so fierce and deadly.

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

staunchly Hindu political parties such as the Shiv Sena (A right-wing political party in India. It has a very pro Hindu Maharashtrian/Marathi and

ideology). This contributed to their growing power and dominance in the city of Mumbai.

II. Present Situation

competition to be the most powerful and feared gang in the city.

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over different regions of the city. Chhota Rajans gang is especially powerful in the Chembur region of Mumbai. Arun Gawli dominates the Lower Parel, Parel, Byculla and Dadar regions of Mumbai. Chhota Shakeel is dominant in Andheri. Dawood Ibrahim is known to have significant power over regions in South Mumbai. However, South Mumbai is among the richest areas of the city. Many important political figures and rich businessmen live in this region. Because of this, South Mumbai is a highly coveted area by all the dons. It is very important for the dons to maintain the power they have in their regions. However they must also continuously strive to get more areas of the city under their influence. The rivalries between the gangs and among individual dons are also important with regards to the relationship with the chair. The dons of the committee have to struggle among themselves to establish

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

good relations with the chair since he is an internationally powerful figure in the field of organized crime. The dons have to struggle to be able to perform the tasks that the chair asks of them. The rewards that the dons are likely to receive are massive and so they have a great incentive to keep the chair pleased by showing them their capabilities and efficiency. However it is important to remember that though there are two gangs that dominate the underworld scene, there are a number of dons who are nonaligned and function independently. There are also others who belonged to either gang at some point but then decided to split off. These dons are rather significant in the situation because they could end up determining the victorious gang in the struggle if they chose to do so. As a result of the rivalry, another important feature arises that is especially important. Situations of blackmail and bribery are rampant so as to get members to defect and join the opposing camp.

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Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

Therefore knowing about the blasts is important. Since this committee is a congregation of the most dangerous and prominent underworld dons, it will not have a formal structure and format. Realistically, it would be almost impossible to get members of the underworld, some rivals and some friends, to meet in a committee together. Thus this committee is going to be more of a gathering or a meeting of sorts. The chair, an international don, of renowned reputation and power among Mumbais underworld has called for this gathering. He has a lot to offer to the delegates. The chair has an interest in extending his reigns of influence of power and control to India. He is aware of the nature of the Mumbai underworld and their activities and is looking to use the various gangs and their capabilities to extend his foreign control.

It is important to understand the transfiguration underworld of and the the Mumbai nature of

relationships that exist. The crux of the aggression and competiveness lies in this dynamic. Committee format and structure Due to the nature and content of this committee, it will have a rather unique and interesting structure. The committee is set to be occurring in the year 2002. Thus while it is important to focus on the happenings of the underworld during this time, it is also important be aware of the previous years movies that are being discussed in the IIFA committee and the upcoming movies for the year. Knowledge of the March 1993 Bomb blasts in Bombay is fairly significant. They determine the nature and dynamic of the underworld scenario in 2002.

Furthermore, the chair sees opportunity in the nexus between the underworld and Bollywood in Mumbai for his purposes. Bollywood has become internationally

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popular. It influences people all over the world. And most importantly, involves huge sums of money. With Bollywood enjoying this kind of growth and the international attention received by the IIFA awards, there is a great deal that the chair wishes to achieve from this committee. However it is important to remember that since this is a gathering of dons from the underworld, a great amount of the functioning of the committee will be in the form of covert agreements, secret arrangements, threats from the dons to the IIFA stars, collection of bribes, undercover trade etc. Thus, with this in mind it is evident that the best work of the delegates will come from their ability and effectiveness in carrying out side dealings, secret exchanges and concealed activities. Delegates will be able to have these exchanges with dons within the committee and with the delegates of the IIFA awards committee. Delegates The committee will not be following strict parliamentary procedure. There is no will have a number of resources that they will be able to use during the conference. These include

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

way that dons of the Mumbai underworld will adhere to strict rules about how to run the meeting. There will therefore be a significant amount of informal and unmoderated debate during the conference. However, the chair is a powerful man and so he is in charge. The formal part of the conference will be that all actions that any of the delegates wish to carry out must be submitted to the dais in the form of directives. These directives will then have to be confirmed and approved by the chair and crisis staff. Once this has been done, the delegates will be notified about the turn over or the consequences of their actions. The delegates of the committee can choose how they wish to work. They may form gangs and work with other dons or they may work individually. Depending on this, delegates may submit individual or group directives. Either way, the names of those making the directive must be clearly stated on the submissions.

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money, drugs, accomplices, arms etc. They can use the resources available to them to work towards their success in the Mumbai underworld. They may use these resources together with the other members of the gathering, or they may choose to use them against one another. The kind of things they can do with these resources kidnapping, include acts of out murder, threats, sending Any confusion regarding specific positions and roles will be made clearer in the dossiers. This will give you all a better understanding of each dons precise capabilities and spheres of influence. The dossiers are therefore important for each of you to understand your positions in better detail. Delegates can feel free to dress their part to make At every point in time, the members of the committee need to keep their counterpart in the IIFA awards This committee is going to be filled with a lot of aggression, difficult negotiation, drastic acts of terror and impulsiveness. It is these qualities that will make this committee interesting and entertaining for both the dais and the delegates involved. committee in mind. While the Mafia committee will be debating its own crises and problems in terms of drug cartels, smuggling weapons and money laundering, it will have to also maintain and use its nexus with Bollywood as a means to enhance their activities. Interactions with the IIFA committee will be a constant feature throughout the meeting. Remember, the Mafia and Bollywood have grown to have a mutually dependent relationship and so it is the Questions to Consider: the committee more exciting.

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

job of the dons to constantly try and use this relationship to their advantage.

bombings, smuggling etc.

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1) What are the ways in which either gang or individual dons can impress the international don (the chair) such that they can bag the most of his tasks? 2) What are the ways in which power dominance can be maintained? 3) What are the ways in which power expansion can be carried out? 4) What are the measures that should be adopted to maintain a beneficial and healthy relationship with the members of Bollywood? 5) What is being done to maintain a steady inflow of money? 6) How stable and successful is the dons involvement in the activities of hawala, extortion, contract killing, drug cartels and liquor dens? 1) Mantri S. Sachin, Gupta Madhu. Criminal Gangs and Organized Crime: A Perspective of Mumbai Mega Metropolis.

Mumbai Underworld: Mafia 2002

Variorum, e-Research
Darkly

Multi-Disciplinary
2) Through a Glass

Journal 2.1 (2011): 1-6. Outlook Magazine 13 August

2007: Cover. Print 3) Bollywood in Bhais Shadow

Tehelka 30 July 2005:

4) Salman underworld Khan threat receives

The
August

Economic
2002.

Times

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5) Profile: Indias fugitive gangster The fugitive gangster, Dawood Ibrahim, is Indias most wanted man BBC News 12 September 2006. 6) Swami Praveen. Mumbais Mafia Wars Frontline Magazine 16.7 (1999): 7) Police told Ash about Salmans underworld lines The Times of

India 16th July 2005

References:

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8) Chhota Shakeel could be my fan: Salman The Times of India 7 January 2003
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