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Godfathers of Crime: Face to Face with India's Most Wanted
‘Main Shakeel Bhai bol raha hoon. Farmaiyen, Sheelaji!’
Among the first female journalists in India to investigate crime andthe underworld, Sheela Raval has had an eventful three-decade-longcareer in print media and television that has seen her track India’smost notorious criminals across different parts of the globe. Alwayshot on the trail of a story, Raval broke the news about Chhota Rajansurviving a brutal assassination attempt in Bangkok in 2000, attendedDawood Ibrahim’s daughter’s wedding in Dubai and is the only personto have interviewed Samira Jumani, noted gangster Abu Salem’s firstwife, after Salem’s arrest and extradition.
Now, in a candid memoir of fearless reportage, Raval recounts herinteractions with the much-feared dons, and the revelations theybrought forth about the intricate workings of organized crime withinIndian borders and beyond. Raval’s bold writing gives fresh and sofarunpublished insight into the D Company’s evolution as a criminalorganization with transnational influence and connections withforeign governments; the much-talked-about split between Dawoodand Chhota Rajan; a once-promising cricketer who became one ofMumbai’s most-feared dons; the Abu Salem–Monica Bedi affair; andthe circumstances that led her to appear as a state witness in the highprofilecase against film producer Bharat Shah and Chhota Shakeel.
Chilling and revelatory, Raval’s stories provide a fascinating glimpseinto the minds of organized criminals who have long haunted India’ssecurity forces. Godfathers of Crime is a chronicle of men who havelived outside the boundaries of the law for most of their lives, toldthrough the personal experiences of an intrepid journalist.
Among the first female journalists in India to investigate crime andthe underworld, Sheela Raval has had an eventful three-decade-longcareer in print media and television that has seen her track India’smost notorious criminals across different parts of the globe. Alwayshot on the trail of a story, Raval broke the news about Chhota Rajansurviving a brutal assassination attempt in Bangkok in 2000, attendedDawood Ibrahim’s daughter’s wedding in Dubai and is the only personto have interviewed Samira Jumani, noted gangster Abu Salem’s firstwife, after Salem’s arrest and extradition.
Now, in a candid memoir of fearless reportage, Raval recounts herinteractions with the much-feared dons, and the revelations theybrought forth about the intricate workings of organized crime withinIndian borders and beyond. Raval’s bold writing gives fresh and sofarunpublished insight into the D Company’s evolution as a criminalorganization with transnational influence and connections withforeign governments; the much-talked-about split between Dawoodand Chhota Rajan; a once-promising cricketer who became one ofMumbai’s most-feared dons; the Abu Salem–Monica Bedi affair; andthe circumstances that led her to appear as a state witness in the highprofilecase against film producer Bharat Shah and Chhota Shakeel.
Chilling and revelatory, Raval’s stories provide a fascinating glimpseinto the minds of organized criminals who have long haunted India’ssecurity forces. Godfathers of Crime is a chronicle of men who havelived outside the boundaries of the law for most of their lives, toldthrough the personal experiences of an intrepid journalist.
- GenresNonfictionIndia
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2015
17 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 12, 2016
This is the account of a crime reporter's interactions with the mumbai mafia's biggest names. The amount of the efforts put in by the author to find out the other side of the stories and her perseverance in following the story to the end stand out in this book. One issue I had with this book is that the events jump back and fourth in time which make it difficult to keep track of the chronology.
It's a good, crisp work that serves as an introduction to the lives of the gangsters who started out small but have grown to huge international (dis)repute.
It's a good, crisp work that serves as an introduction to the lives of the gangsters who started out small but have grown to huge international (dis)repute.
May 17, 2016
Before this book was written, Byculla to Bangkok by S. Hussain Zaidi was probably the only book available on Maharashtrian mobsters. Godfathers of Crime can be called an extension of Zaidi's book, though i would rate this one higher. Though the book is based on Mumbai dons, it can also be termed as a sort of resume for Sheela Raval, since it covers almost all the major stories she has done during her journalism career. Readers of this genre would love this book since it mentions some incidents which are exclusive like Dawood's presence during his daughter's marriage, Chhota Rajan's escape from Bangkok hospital, how and why he fell apart from Sharad Shetty etc. Most of the stories are already covered for Raval's past and present employers in visual media, but getting all of them together in print is definitely quite tempting.
January 29, 2016
Not written in the style of Husain Zaidi's books on Mumbai mafia, but interesting read, nevertheless.
December 17, 2015
Quite engrossing... but only hints at some big issues. A more detailed review soon
Read
October 18, 2020It is an engrossing and easy book to finish. It is a textbook case for one who aspire to be a crime reporter. The books gives versions of everyone involved in underworld, from horse mouth like a chota shakeel to an estranged wife of a gangster and also various theories put forward by various investigation agencies regarding every gangster mentioned in the book. Although all these stories are already in public domain,one can read this book to refresh our memory of the underworld era of 90s. It is also must read for another reason as to know how gangsters manipulate even their closet aides and how convincingly they lie without any hesitation. The weakness of this book is that it neither exposes the rot in the system nor reveals anything which is not known to public. Yet there are several loose strings if attached or meaning between the lines or dots if connected properly,one gets a fair picture of nexus between hindi film industry,businessmen,bureacrats,politicians and underworld whiçh is so important to understand the dynamics of underworld. I got it for fair amount of discount,if you get hands on it,go for it.
May 15, 2017
I picked up this book in an airport bookstore only because I had Misplaced my kindle. The expectations were low since the topic itself attracts more masala than analysis /facts. As expected the book is filled with crazy nuggets of information which is bound to interest an underworld Mafia genre fan like me. However the attempt to portrait all the dons' lives in a chapter format falls a little short of holding our attention. Most of the research or references seems to only rely on her past interviews /experiences rather than actual documental evidences and there is very little analysis as to why certain things panned out the way it did. Maybe the author doesn't want to give us a tell all tale for the fear of losing her golden egg laying contacts. Overall an average one time read.
February 22, 2021
After reading Dongri to Dubai, to be frank the style of writing left me disappointed. This book can be the resume of the author and narrates all the incidence that happened during her journalistic career.
Unlike Hussain Zaidi's books this book reads more like a news item. I wish the author had added little bit of more juicy insight for all the stories especially in the story in which on behalf of the then Police commissioner she agreed to turn into a state witness. The Rajan's story had lot of insight but still lacked the glue that keeps the reader guessing as to what will be his next move. Rather the story read like a news item.
Unlike Hussain Zaidi's books this book reads more like a news item. I wish the author had added little bit of more juicy insight for all the stories especially in the story in which on behalf of the then Police commissioner she agreed to turn into a state witness. The Rajan's story had lot of insight but still lacked the glue that keeps the reader guessing as to what will be his next move. Rather the story read like a news item.
February 14, 2020
The author has been an investigative journalist and her indepth knowledge, coverage and presentation of incidents and facts is quite interesting. Approaching the significant events of underworld and laying them bare, she chose a neutral yet decisive tone. The books does open to a slow start with a lot written about the author and her journey but once she opens the pandora's box you can't get enough of it. Lined with anecdotes and detailed analysis and description of events and individuals, this book is a treat for the curious and a wonderful outcome of the author's years of hardwork.
April 5, 2020
Good Read.. a Reality of underworld and thier network.
April 5, 2025
Very interesting stories giving a very personal touch to the most dreaded of the world
January 4, 2016
OMG ! One more book on the Mumbai gang lords. There seem to be more books published on Dawood Bhai and his friends than on other people who have achieved so much more in their chosen line of pursuit in India…be it Sachin Tendulkar or Shah Rukh Khan or Narendra Modi for that matter. Whether this exposes India’s reading habits or my own misplaced fascination with the Mumbai underworld, I am not too sure.
Sheela Rawal is a pro as far as reporting on the underworld is concerned. Sheela, who is originally from the Gujarati media, moved over to the English press later on and wrote with distinction on the Mumbai warlords in the 90s. Later, she moved to Star News and anchored some pretty popular series on crime. Unlike Hussain Zaidi the original chronicler on Mumbai crime, she was a more popular and known face as she anchored a show on television. And her ability to reach out to these dons and get their point of view gives her extra notch of credibility compared to Zaidi.
The stories are the same. The fading of the gentlemen Dons (that is what Haji Mastan, Varadarajan Mudaliar and Karim Lala are now collectively referred to in the past-tense.) and the rise and rise of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his multiple assorted associates – some who are dead (Iqbal Mirchi), some still with him ( Chota Shakeel) and some who jumped ship and started out on their own ( Abu Salem) and the assorted Hindu Dons…like the Naik brothers, Gawli et al….are paraded thru the book.
The rest of the book also is the same stories with a different spin…the global operations of Dawood, his henchmen, his brothers and family, of members being shot dead…and some more being shot dead in retaliation, of gangsters shot dead in hospital wards and in sub-divisional courts, the split between Dawood and Rajan due to the 1993 bomb blasts, Rajan’s escape, some spin on the Hindu dons v/s Muslim Dons, emergence of Santosh Shetty….
One understated theme is the fascination with the film world that the dons have….more so between the Bollywood heroines and the Bombay bad boys. Haji Mastan had a thing or two for a yester year heroine, Iqbal Mirchi married Heena Kausar (daughter of KA Asif and no less), Dawood sired a child thru Mandakini, Abu Salem married / had a relationship with Monica Bedi (depending on whether it is Salem or Monica who is relating it to you) and countless other actresses who were known to be molls, girlfriends and one-night-stands with the underworld. Their threatening of actors, varnishing their black money thru Eastman color films and financing of films is old hat and gets its due mention in the book.
A new perspective that seems to be coming out…both in this book and Neeraj Kumar’s book is that there is more to the Mumbai blasts than Dawood, Tiger and Company…..While it is being hinted at – neither of the books pursues it more seriously and gets to the bottom of it. There seems to be more ISI / Pakistan in this than what we all seem to be thinking and possibly a sensational book by one of the more enterprising authors is on its way on this line of thought.
Whatever one might say about these Dons and their activities, which need to be condemned – we have to appreciate ( or be amused?) their imagination and sense of humor in the way they are all nicknamed…Salim Kurla, Chota Rajan, Iqbal Mirchi, Suleman Langda…..AND THE LIST GOES ON.
Sheela Rawal’s ability to get behind the scenes, talk to the principal players is what makes the book interesting…though the actors have been done to death in multiple books published on them.
Whether it is her long conversations with Iqbal Mirchi in UK (who died recently), her presence at Dawood’s daughter’s Walima at the Hyatt in Dubai, her exclusive tete-a-tetes with Samira Jumani (wife of Abu Salem), her conversations with Amar Naik ( he is one of the few educated Dons…he passes of as an Engineer…though he is only a Diploma holder) and Amar Gawli…..her regular phone calls with Chota Shakeel (the consiglieri of Dawood) the book throws some new light on the old actors….if you are fascinated by Mumbai crime…like I am….go read this book.
An enjoyable book.
Sheela Rawal is a pro as far as reporting on the underworld is concerned. Sheela, who is originally from the Gujarati media, moved over to the English press later on and wrote with distinction on the Mumbai warlords in the 90s. Later, she moved to Star News and anchored some pretty popular series on crime. Unlike Hussain Zaidi the original chronicler on Mumbai crime, she was a more popular and known face as she anchored a show on television. And her ability to reach out to these dons and get their point of view gives her extra notch of credibility compared to Zaidi.
The stories are the same. The fading of the gentlemen Dons (that is what Haji Mastan, Varadarajan Mudaliar and Karim Lala are now collectively referred to in the past-tense.) and the rise and rise of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his multiple assorted associates – some who are dead (Iqbal Mirchi), some still with him ( Chota Shakeel) and some who jumped ship and started out on their own ( Abu Salem) and the assorted Hindu Dons…like the Naik brothers, Gawli et al….are paraded thru the book.
The rest of the book also is the same stories with a different spin…the global operations of Dawood, his henchmen, his brothers and family, of members being shot dead…and some more being shot dead in retaliation, of gangsters shot dead in hospital wards and in sub-divisional courts, the split between Dawood and Rajan due to the 1993 bomb blasts, Rajan’s escape, some spin on the Hindu dons v/s Muslim Dons, emergence of Santosh Shetty….
One understated theme is the fascination with the film world that the dons have….more so between the Bollywood heroines and the Bombay bad boys. Haji Mastan had a thing or two for a yester year heroine, Iqbal Mirchi married Heena Kausar (daughter of KA Asif and no less), Dawood sired a child thru Mandakini, Abu Salem married / had a relationship with Monica Bedi (depending on whether it is Salem or Monica who is relating it to you) and countless other actresses who were known to be molls, girlfriends and one-night-stands with the underworld. Their threatening of actors, varnishing their black money thru Eastman color films and financing of films is old hat and gets its due mention in the book.
A new perspective that seems to be coming out…both in this book and Neeraj Kumar’s book is that there is more to the Mumbai blasts than Dawood, Tiger and Company…..While it is being hinted at – neither of the books pursues it more seriously and gets to the bottom of it. There seems to be more ISI / Pakistan in this than what we all seem to be thinking and possibly a sensational book by one of the more enterprising authors is on its way on this line of thought.
Whatever one might say about these Dons and their activities, which need to be condemned – we have to appreciate ( or be amused?) their imagination and sense of humor in the way they are all nicknamed…Salim Kurla, Chota Rajan, Iqbal Mirchi, Suleman Langda…..AND THE LIST GOES ON.
Sheela Rawal’s ability to get behind the scenes, talk to the principal players is what makes the book interesting…though the actors have been done to death in multiple books published on them.
Whether it is her long conversations with Iqbal Mirchi in UK (who died recently), her presence at Dawood’s daughter’s Walima at the Hyatt in Dubai, her exclusive tete-a-tetes with Samira Jumani (wife of Abu Salem), her conversations with Amar Naik ( he is one of the few educated Dons…he passes of as an Engineer…though he is only a Diploma holder) and Amar Gawli…..her regular phone calls with Chota Shakeel (the consiglieri of Dawood) the book throws some new light on the old actors….if you are fascinated by Mumbai crime…like I am….go read this book.
An enjoyable book.
October 5, 2025
BELOW AVERAGE
Despite its promising material, the book fails to engage. When the subject is the lives of Mumbai’s infamous dons, the result should be anything but bland — yet, unfortunately, that’s what we get here.
The author focuses heavily on her interview set pieces, many of which carry a strong undertone of self-praise. She seems almost in awe of these gangsters, offering no moral judgment on their crimes but instead subtle admiration through words like “shrewd” or “effective management of their network.” While this might be an attempt at journalistic integrity, the frequent self-indulgence makes it feel less like integrity and more like vanity.
The writing itself lacks flair. The narrative often feels incoherent and the later chapters grow noticeably shorter — as if merely padding the book to completion. (I read it in short bursts, if that matters)
That said, credit where it’s due: the author is undoubtedly a daring journalist. She’s ventured into dangerous territory and done the kind of groundwork that few would dare attempt, especially as a woman in that world. Perhaps her next work, maybe an autobiography, would be a more fitting canvas for her story.
Despite its promising material, the book fails to engage. When the subject is the lives of Mumbai’s infamous dons, the result should be anything but bland — yet, unfortunately, that’s what we get here.
The author focuses heavily on her interview set pieces, many of which carry a strong undertone of self-praise. She seems almost in awe of these gangsters, offering no moral judgment on their crimes but instead subtle admiration through words like “shrewd” or “effective management of their network.” While this might be an attempt at journalistic integrity, the frequent self-indulgence makes it feel less like integrity and more like vanity.
The writing itself lacks flair. The narrative often feels incoherent and the later chapters grow noticeably shorter — as if merely padding the book to completion. (I read it in short bursts, if that matters)
That said, credit where it’s due: the author is undoubtedly a daring journalist. She’s ventured into dangerous territory and done the kind of groundwork that few would dare attempt, especially as a woman in that world. Perhaps her next work, maybe an autobiography, would be a more fitting canvas for her story.
March 23, 2016
The book is wonderfully paced. I think whilst a lot of the events or incidences are well drafted, a large part of these are in public forum via the news or media. However the reception of the Karachi based don, the Bangkok firing and attempt and a few other things around Arun Gawli and others intrigued me to know more about them.
I think the author had been very careful not to upset any one vide this book. So although interesting the revelations are carefully worded. I think it gives a good history and background of underworld and the changed dynamics of it over a period of time.
What would be interesting to know from the other is a newer version of this post arrest of Rajan and as claimed the Karachi based Don's retirement. On a overall a good Read.
I think the author had been very careful not to upset any one vide this book. So although interesting the revelations are carefully worded. I think it gives a good history and background of underworld and the changed dynamics of it over a period of time.
What would be interesting to know from the other is a newer version of this post arrest of Rajan and as claimed the Karachi based Don's retirement. On a overall a good Read.
March 6, 2016
The big shift this book brought about was the realization that the D Company (or indeed, the other gangs) are no longer a bunch of Bombay boys trying to prove their superiority. Rather, these gangs are now complex businesses across countries and verticals. While one knew this anyway, this book reminds you forcibly that the gang is not just the typical RGV movie depiction, but much much more, calling for finesse, leadership and remote management of a different order.
The author has managed to keep it personal while still sticking to facts, and not forcing her opinions. Something Neeraj Kumar (Dial D for Don) could learn from...
The author has managed to keep it personal while still sticking to facts, and not forcing her opinions. Something Neeraj Kumar (Dial D for Don) could learn from...
December 30, 2015
It is a gripping narrative of a crime journalist going about her job to report Mumbai's underworld. Makes for a fascinating read, and the length of the book keeps the interest piqued. A good choice for non-fiction lovers.
March 12, 2016
book shows us those never heard stories of mafia dons we all know.The first chapter is interesting and fast paced.my fav part remains on the chota rajan escape. the book is well researched ..a good book for anyone who wants to know more on Mumbai's infamous mafia history
June 6, 2016
What a fearless journalist! What a fascinating book!
March 22, 2017
Interesting read for those not familiar with Mumbai's underworld. My only complaint is that the author didn't follow chronology,preferring the climax in the beginning and only later explaining gangster's early lives.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews