MUMBAI — Dawood Ibrahim, one of India’s most wanted fugitives, remains a symbol of how organized crime can evolve into a global security threat. Born in 1955 in Dongri, Mumbai, Dawood began his criminal journey as a petty smuggler but rose to power as the notorious head of D-Company, a vast criminal syndicate involved in drug trafficking, extortion, illegal arms deals, and money laundering.
His most infamous act was masterminding the 1993 Bombay bombings — a series of 12 coordinated explosions across Mumbai that killed over 250 people and injured more than 700. These attacks were reportedly in retaliation for the destruction of the Babri Masjid and subsequent communal riots, cementing Dawood’s status as a terrorist figure on the global stage.
Following the bombings, Dawood fled India in the early 1990s and is widely believed to be residing in Pakistan under alleged state protection, a claim Pakistan has consistently denied.
In India, Dawood Ibrahim faces numerous charges under various laws. He is wanted for murder, conspiracy, and rioting under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), for organizing and funding the 1993 bombings under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), and for other terrorist activities under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He also faces charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) for drug trafficking, and under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for laundering vast sums of illicit money.
The case of State of Maharashtra v. Dawood Ibrahim continues in absentia. Evidence against him includes confessions from his aides, financial records tracing illegal operations, and testimony from victims and law enforcement. Dawood has been designated a global terrorist by the United Nations, and countries like the United States have imposed sanctions against him. Multiple Interpol Red Notices remain active for his arrest.
Although Dawood’s physical freedom persists, Indian authorities have seized his properties and auctioned them to dismantle his financial networks. Despite significant diplomatic and law enforcement efforts, Dawood has eluded capture for decades, underscoring the challenges of combating international crime syndicates shielded by geopolitical complexities.
For India, the continued absence of justice for the victims of the 1993 Bombay bombings remains a profound national wound, with Dawood Ibrahim still representing both unfinished business and a potent symbol of how organized crime and terrorism can merge to threaten global security.
