The Top 10 Notorious Criminals in India: From Mumbai's Mafia to Chintadripet's Underworld

India, a diverse and vibrant nation, has seen its share of notorious criminals over the years. The names that have been whispered in hushed tones often refer to the vast and complex underworld of India, particularly that of Mumbai. From the storied D-Company of DAWOOD IBRAHIM to the mysterious Rajan, the tales of these criminals weave an intricate tapestry of crime and mystery.

Dawood Ibrahim

Dawood Ibrahim, born in 1955, is one of the most feared and notorious figures in India’s underworld. His early life is steeped in petty crimes, but by the late 1970s, Ibrahim had risen to formidable heights, becoming a major player in extortion, money laundering, gold smuggling, illegal arms trade, and drug trafficking. He led the D-Company, a mega crime syndicate with operations across multiple continents.

His notoriety was sealed following the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai for which he was named as one of the main perpetrators. Fleeing to Pakistan, Ibrahim remains elusive, despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies like Interpol.

Chotta Rajan

Chotta Rajan, born in 1950, was once a protege of Rajan Mahadev Nair, better known as Bada Rajan. After the death of his mentor in 1983, Chotta Rajan took over and established a strong alliance with Dawood Ibrahim. However, a falling out in 1993 led to a split, and Chotta Rajan embarked on his own criminal empire, known for drug trafficking, extortion, murder, and smuggling.

Despite multiple attempts by Ibrahim to assassinate him, Chotta Rajan was ultimately captured in Bali by Indonesian and Australian law enforcement. He is currently serving a life sentence at Tihar Jail in Delhi.

Haji Mastan

Haji Mastan, born in 1926 in Tamil Nadu, is another legend in the Indian underworld. He established a powerful criminal empire in Mumbai, working alongside Karim Lala and Varadarajan Mulaidar. Known for his cunning and shrewdness, Mastan was also involved in large-scale black marketing of cinema tickets, bootlegging, and extortion.

Mastan ruled the underworld for two decades between 1960 and 1980. In 1994, he died at the age of 68 of cardiac arrest in Mumbai.

Veerappan

Veerappan, born in Mysore in 1952, was a highly feared smuggler, poacher, and bandit. He was responsible for the murder of over 120 people, the deaths of more than 2000 elephants, and the illicit sale of tons of sandalwood and ivory. Veerappan also kidnapped government officials, politicians, and even celebrities for ransom.

One of the most elusive criminals, Veerappan evaded capture for nearly two decades. He was finally cornered and killed in 2004 in an encounter at Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu, the result of a months-long operation code-named Operation Cocoon.

Chinna Mudaliar

Chinna Mudaliar, also known as Varada, was a formidable crime boss in Mumbai. Born in Tamil Nadu, he moved to Mumbai in 1945 to work as a porter at VT station. Mudaliar later became involved in cargo theft at Mumbai's docks and quickly expanded his criminal activities, including illegal land encroachment, gambling, illicit liquor sales, extortion, and kidnapping.

As the influence of Haji Mastan and Karim Lala began to wane, Mudaliar firmly established himself as one of Mumbai's most feared underworld figures. However, by the late 1980s, the majority of his gang had been killed or imprisoned, forcing Mudaliar to flee to Madras. He died of a heart attack there in 1988.

These criminal figures are a testament to the complex and often violent underbelly of Indian society. Their legacy continues to be a subject of fascination and discussion, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime in the country.