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The Dirty Dozen: Hitmen of the Mumbai Underworld
KILL YOUR SISTER’S HUSBAND, AND THEN I WILL KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN YOU!
Chhota Shakeel to Sadiq Jalawar
Munna Jhingada, Farid Tanasha, Baba Reddy… hitmen and executioners all. Each with haunting tales to tell.
The executioner has no remorse. He is the man who strikes the fear of his boss in everybody’s heart. While he has no criminal empire of his own, his barbaric bio-sketch could fill several police case diaries. Those who live by the bullet die by the bullet – almost every last man of them. But in their short reign of terror, they leave a trail of devastation in their wake. In this no-holds-barred book, undercover reporter Gabriel Khan, backed by years of behind-the-scenes work, provides an insight into the lives of twelve of the most vicious and fearless hitmen of Mumbai, giving readers a first-hand insight into what fuels the men behind some of the bloodiest battles and showdowns in the city.
Chhota Shakeel to Sadiq Jalawar
Munna Jhingada, Farid Tanasha, Baba Reddy… hitmen and executioners all. Each with haunting tales to tell.
The executioner has no remorse. He is the man who strikes the fear of his boss in everybody’s heart. While he has no criminal empire of his own, his barbaric bio-sketch could fill several police case diaries. Those who live by the bullet die by the bullet – almost every last man of them. But in their short reign of terror, they leave a trail of devastation in their wake. In this no-holds-barred book, undercover reporter Gabriel Khan, backed by years of behind-the-scenes work, provides an insight into the lives of twelve of the most vicious and fearless hitmen of Mumbai, giving readers a first-hand insight into what fuels the men behind some of the bloodiest battles and showdowns in the city.
226 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2017
59 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Gabriel Khan
5 books3 followersThe author of Special 26, Mumbai Avengers, The Dirty Dozen and Assassins.
Gabriel Khan is the pseudonym for a veteran crime reporter from Mumbai. With the experience of over twenty-five years in journalism—mainly print and stints with television and dotcoms—Gabriel is a reservoir of information on the city’s underbelly. Gabriel has also done a lot of hand-holding for several budding journalists, many of whom have now established their bylines.
Gabriel Khan also co-authored with S. Hussain Zaidi on his debut fiction, Mumbai Avengers, which was subsequently made into a blockbuster movie titled Phantom, directed by Kabir Khan.
Gabriel Khan has also converted the movie Special 26 into a novella.
Gabriel Khan is the pseudonym for a veteran crime reporter from Mumbai. With the experience of over twenty-five years in journalism—mainly print and stints with television and dotcoms—Gabriel is a reservoir of information on the city’s underbelly. Gabriel has also done a lot of hand-holding for several budding journalists, many of whom have now established their bylines.
Gabriel Khan also co-authored with S. Hussain Zaidi on his debut fiction, Mumbai Avengers, which was subsequently made into a blockbuster movie titled Phantom, directed by Kabir Khan.
Gabriel Khan has also converted the movie Special 26 into a novella.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 23, 2022
The stories were interesting but the way they were put on paper made them bland.
The Mumbai underworld has so many facets to be discovered via books but justice wasn't done to the multidimensionality of the topic.It was a failed opportunity to bring something vividly ugly and engrossing to the audience.
The book made it all seem like child's play which it definitely isn't.
😕
The Mumbai underworld has so many facets to be discovered via books but justice wasn't done to the multidimensionality of the topic.It was a failed opportunity to bring something vividly ugly and engrossing to the audience.
The book made it all seem like child's play which it definitely isn't.
😕
December 7, 2025
Gabriel Khan’s book hits hard. It’s gritty, fast, and weirdly intimate — the kind of nonfiction that feels like a crime reporter whispering field notes directly into your ear at 2 a.m.
What makes the book pop isn’t just the violence (though there’s plenty of that — bullets, blades, and betrayals come free with every chapter). It’s the very human, often tragic anatomy of the hitmen themselves.
Khan doesn’t glamorise; he excavates. These men aren’t cold-blooded killing machines — they’re products of alleyway economics, political machinations, broken homes, and that uniquely Indian cocktail of ambition and desperation.
The rise of the “supari culture” becomes a lens through which you watch the entire city mutate.
Each profile in the dozen feels like a self-contained noir film. Some are terrifying, some pitiful, some strangely charming in their warped loyalty codes. And Khan writes them with the clarity of someone who’s spent too long staring into the abyss and now takes notes with a kind of resigned curiosity.
You feel the sweat of the chawls, the paranoia of back-alley deals, the strange glamour of the 90s underworld boom where everyone thought they were one job away from becoming Dawood 2.0.
There’s also a wicked sense of how the system itself — cops, politicians, businessmen — keeps the machinery humming.
Khan peels back the façade of “organized crime” and reveals a city running on unofficial networks, freelance violence, and hustle culture turned homicidal. Honestly, half the time the hitmen seem like cogs in a much larger, darker economy that doesn’t care who lives or dies as long as the power flows upward.
The prose is tight, cinematic, and packed with the kind of detail that makes you think, “Either this guy has insane sources or he’s lived nine lives already.”
The pacing is fierce — you never linger long enough to settle, because the world being described never stands still. It’s chaotic, combustible, and frighteningly believable.
By the end, the book leaves you with a chilling understanding: Mumbai isn’t just a city of dreams; it’s a city that manufactures its own monsters — and sometimes those monsters are just boys who never had another road to walk.
Dark, engrossing, and brutally real, ‘The Dirty Dozen’ is a punch to the gut — but the kind you weirdly thank the book for delivering.
Most recommended. Give it a go.
What makes the book pop isn’t just the violence (though there’s plenty of that — bullets, blades, and betrayals come free with every chapter). It’s the very human, often tragic anatomy of the hitmen themselves.
Khan doesn’t glamorise; he excavates. These men aren’t cold-blooded killing machines — they’re products of alleyway economics, political machinations, broken homes, and that uniquely Indian cocktail of ambition and desperation.
The rise of the “supari culture” becomes a lens through which you watch the entire city mutate.
Each profile in the dozen feels like a self-contained noir film. Some are terrifying, some pitiful, some strangely charming in their warped loyalty codes. And Khan writes them with the clarity of someone who’s spent too long staring into the abyss and now takes notes with a kind of resigned curiosity.
You feel the sweat of the chawls, the paranoia of back-alley deals, the strange glamour of the 90s underworld boom where everyone thought they were one job away from becoming Dawood 2.0.
There’s also a wicked sense of how the system itself — cops, politicians, businessmen — keeps the machinery humming.
Khan peels back the façade of “organized crime” and reveals a city running on unofficial networks, freelance violence, and hustle culture turned homicidal. Honestly, half the time the hitmen seem like cogs in a much larger, darker economy that doesn’t care who lives or dies as long as the power flows upward.
The prose is tight, cinematic, and packed with the kind of detail that makes you think, “Either this guy has insane sources or he’s lived nine lives already.”
The pacing is fierce — you never linger long enough to settle, because the world being described never stands still. It’s chaotic, combustible, and frighteningly believable.
By the end, the book leaves you with a chilling understanding: Mumbai isn’t just a city of dreams; it’s a city that manufactures its own monsters — and sometimes those monsters are just boys who never had another road to walk.
Dark, engrossing, and brutally real, ‘The Dirty Dozen’ is a punch to the gut — but the kind you weirdly thank the book for delivering.
Most recommended. Give it a go.
December 22, 2022
The throbbing, thriving financial capital of India has a dark, deadly underbelly where lives are lived by the gun. Amidst the millions of hardworking, law-abiding citizens of Mumbai are a multitude of gangsters who think nothing about carrying out extortions and kidnappings and murders. The Dirty Dozen chronicles the lives, and deaths, of a dozen such men, who perpetrated the most atrocious of crimes at the behest of mafia dons like Dawood Ibrahim, Arun Gawli, and others.
These stories of youngsters from humble backgrounds who, lured by easy money and a sense of power, became the tools in the hands of ruthless mob bosses are morbidly fascinating to read. The audacity with which these hitmen went about their business, without any fear of the law, is shocking, and distrubing.
While each of these stories is gripping, the one dimensional narrative makes them all seem repetitive. The overdose of names of people and places, the jumping timelines, and the lack of a logical structure makes following the stories a little difficult. The Dirty Dozen is, albeit falling short on presentation, an important book for anyone looking for insights into the workings of the Mumbai Mafia of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
These stories of youngsters from humble backgrounds who, lured by easy money and a sense of power, became the tools in the hands of ruthless mob bosses are morbidly fascinating to read. The audacity with which these hitmen went about their business, without any fear of the law, is shocking, and distrubing.
While each of these stories is gripping, the one dimensional narrative makes them all seem repetitive. The overdose of names of people and places, the jumping timelines, and the lack of a logical structure makes following the stories a little difficult. The Dirty Dozen is, albeit falling short on presentation, an important book for anyone looking for insights into the workings of the Mumbai Mafia of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
March 16, 2018
Dons make a facinating tale. But what makes a Don is not just his actions but the men who work for them, facilitating the dirty work and spreading the terror for the Don.
This book explores the stories of the men behind the scenes. From the less known dons to the most famous D, this gives an insights on how these hitmen spread terror for their dons. It also gives a perspective of the highs and lows of their lives,and how they blaze like a meteor and go out in a puff while names of their master's continue to glow and radiate fear.
A good account and do read if you want insights into the gang wars that ravaged Mumbai.
This book explores the stories of the men behind the scenes. From the less known dons to the most famous D, this gives an insights on how these hitmen spread terror for their dons. It also gives a perspective of the highs and lows of their lives,and how they blaze like a meteor and go out in a puff while names of their master's continue to glow and radiate fear.
A good account and do read if you want insights into the gang wars that ravaged Mumbai.
November 22, 2018
The Dirty Dozen: Hitmen of the Mumbai Underworld by Gabriel Khan is a non-fictional account of Mumbai’s underworld hitmen and their life, woven in a story. Not a fan of non-fiction myself, I only took this book up when it came free as a part of Amazon Prime Reading, and who could ever refuse a free book?
The author, a journalist in the 80s, pens down his memories, (interviews, interactions, meetings, pieces of information, and whatnot) about the hitmen of the underworld. During his time in the world of criminal journalism, the author came into contact with Mr. Farooq Batatawala, a devout Muslim and a chuddy buddy of Dawood Ibrahim. Mr. Batatawala’s life could have been the inspiration behind the tons of Bollywood movies made during those times, childhood friendship went haywire, one becomes a don, one a sincere law enforcer. Despite his association with Dawood, Farooq never had the urge to join his friend’s gang, instead, he became a customs officer hell-bent on busting each and every single of the don’s consignment and bring him to books. It is through him that the author comes in touch with Ustara, a small-time hitman with his own group of cronies, who managed to defy Dawood for almost 8 years! Both Farooq and Ustara act as informants for the author during his professional career until Dawood gets the better of them and has them shot and left to die.
Munna Jhingada, a hitman for the D-gang, had humble beginnings compared to what he did later on in his life. A small-time badass in his locality, Munna tastes blood for the first time when he stabs a college bully who succumbs to his death a few hours later. All of nineteen, Munna surrenders almost immediately after the attack only to be bailed a month later on the behest of his lawyer showcasing a clean past record. His stint in the jail makes him wary and he loses his awe of the D-gang, starts working with his father as an apprentice for 3 years before an encounter with the brother of the bully he killed sucks him back into the world of crime. From then, there is no looking back. His journey from a local criminal to being the favorite hitman of the don himself is bathed in blood. He is currently in the Thai prison for the attack on Chota Rajan, while Indian fights a diplomatic battle with Pakistan over his extradition.
When he was just 16 years old, Tanasha had decided the course of his career, that of crime. Having grown up seeing Chota Rajan work his way up the underworld from the lanes of Chembur to the right-hand man of Dawood, Tanasha joins him as soon as he gets the first opportunity. Despite his father’s best efforts to keep him away from the world of crime, Tanasha was attracted to it like iron to a magnet. After the split of Dawood and Chota Rajan in 1993, Tanasha didn’t change his loyalty and ended up in Chota Rajan's newly formed gang and plots against the master of the D-gang. Several failed attempts to kill Dawood in Karachi puts him in the limelight and makes him a target of the rival gang. Having the mouth of a parrot, Tanasha never failed to boast of his relations with the important people and organizations. Having been into hiding for long, he is finally ticked off by Bharat Nepali’s men while he is enjoying some quality time with his family. It was never found out if Nepali acted on his own or was prompted by Dawood for his actions.
The blood-guzzling Bagga, or Baba Reddy as he is known, is probably one of the most notorious characters of the underworld. A devout Hindu, he drank the blood of his victims, mostly Muslims. Over a period of time, he worked for several gangs, but never settled and managed to get in trouble with most of them, thereby increasing the number of his enemies. Having businesses in South East Asia and bank accounts all over the world, Bagga finally sets up base in Hyderabad and forms his own B-gang. It is only when he falls in love with a Muslim girl that he puts aside his communal hate and converts to Islam. Despite numerous cases and an arrest by the police, Bagga remains a free man until a tip-off by one of his close aides results in his encounter.
Shootout at Lokhandwala, the encounter of Maya Dolas. Maya always was a non-descript foot soldier of the D-company, but one day everything changes when he escapes from the court premises by assaulting the policemen accompanying him. Another feather to his cap comes when he kills 3 members of the rival gang in broad daylight, during Ganpati Visarjan. From there, starts his journey towards becoming the most feared gangster in Bombay. Extortion, kidnapping, settlements, you name it, Maya has it. Cursing is his second language, and he speaks a mix of it with his first. As he grows in strength, so does his ego. Apparently, Dawood and his close aides cash in on his reputation. But, karma comes a full circle. Surrounded by the ATS team hell-bent on eliminating him, Maya breathes his last only after 3 months since the day he escaped. Riddled with bullets, Maya is finally sent away from the world by the policemen, finally avenging the assault that was done on 2 of their men.
Sada Pawle, or Sada Mama as he had come to be known in the Arun Gawli gang was the only non-family member to be given such a respect. Suffering from the textile mill strike, Pawle joins the gang in desperate need of money and moves up the rank with some extremely important assignments, one of them is killing the conspirator behind the killing of Gawli’s brother. When Gawli is imprisoned, Pawle becomes the high command which boosts his ego to such levels that he starts defying Gawli himself. From a small mill worker to a ruthless an fearsome gangster, Pawle comes a long way and more so when he has the complete command of the gang. A couple of more daring murders brings him into the notice of Mumbai Police, who after being on his trails for quite some time, finally nail him en route with his brother and sister and gun him down.
Sadiq Kalia, a former Arun Gawli gang member turns his loyalties towards the D-company when his ambitions become too big for his shoes. On being recruited by Chota Shakeel himself, Kalia finds himself thrown into the important assignments and works his way up. His most daring task, the murder of Arun Gawli’s political party’s main man’s murder, which of course, infuriates Gawli. Plus, Kalia’s broad daylight attack on his childhood friend and his subsequent murder puts the police on his heels. It takes a huge force to track the man who is also called Bhoot, one who comes, does his task and vanishes in thin air. As fate would have had it, the police get hold of Kalia’s closest companion and use him to nab the Bhoot. A gunfire battle ensues in the Dadar flower market one late afternoon, where the Bhoot is finally sent to hell.
In a classic tale of brainwashing, the young and intelligent Firoze Kokani ends up in the D-company. Spotted by Sajid Batliwala, this young boy turns into a deadly killing machine, and by young, I mean young. By the time he was 21 years old, Firoze already had more than a dozen murders in his kitty. His killing of the Mathadi workers turns the fate of the Mumbai riots and he is singlehandedly responsible for the second round of communal murders. His rise to fame, the murder of BJP MLA Ramdas Nayak which turns the police heat on him. After a lot of helter-skelter by the men in khaki to nab the murderer, Firoze is arrested from a hotel room. Reluctantly, he helps the police to capture the other conspirators. While the police beam with their success, Firoze already plans his escape, and 3 years later, he implements it and vanishes for years. It is only after his audacity puts off the D-company king that plans for his disposal are made. Tip-off from the man himself lands Firoze in the police’s grip once again, only this time he is made to escape the world forever.
Gangster turns priest. Unlikely, huh? But true. Raju Philips, the Gawli gang loyalist has his day when he agrees to kill a prominent Muslim leader. After Bukhari’s murder, although Raju is arrested, he is never convicted and is subsequently released. Always a Gawli supporter, Raju never shied away from voicing his opinions on public platforms. When he is made the spokesperson for ABP, he uses the position to spew venom against all of Gawli’s rivals. His faith in Gawli was so much that even when he is subjected to third degree by the police, he keeps his mouth shut, which later results in his being limp for the rest of his life. It is strange that he leaves the gang when the new Millenium turns, taking refuge in the church and becoming a Padre. His focus now lies in spreading the message of Jesus, amongst those who are less fortunate to not have found Him yet.
Ravi Bora, or D.K. Rao as he later came to be known as was a small-time crook until he started looting bank vans and came into contact with Chota Rajan’s recruiter in jail. Once out on bail, he starts working for Chota Rajan and sheds his previous name for good. On a tip-off, police follow Rao again when he is about to strike a big loot, ambush him and his men. The gunfire ensues the killing of his 4 men, but with 19 bullets in his body, Rao survives. He also kills Dawood's brother’s personal driver later, bringing him into the notice of the D-company who hires shooters to kill him, and again Rao is saved by destiny when the police nab the shooters before they could complete their task. He remains to be one of the old-timers of the Rajan gang. After his bail, Rao starts operating from his plush office. Although he works under the guise of doing social work (he has opened an NGO), reports suggest otherwise. In the later years, even from within the jail he operates for Chota Rajan.
Sunil Sawant, nicknamed Sautya came from a well-bred family. His father worked for the railways and had brought him up well until the young Sautya found himself making his own gang in the school. His first brush with crime came when he kills Bhau Marathe, a Shiv Sainik in broad daylight, he was fed up of being bullied by him. From there, he first gave his loyalties to the Nair gang, and then was enticed by the D-company. One of the important murders he commits is that of Mahesh Dholakia, whose growing influence was a risk to Dawood. His steady rise in the gang and closeness to the big D himself puts him on the receiving end of Chota Rajan. Also, Sautya’s precarious lifestyle, guns, and women worked together to take him towards his ultimate fate. Sautya was finally gunned down on Dubai streets by Chota Rajan’s men with the help of an ex-wife, in broad daylight, the same way, years ago he had sent his first victim to hell.
Samad Khan, the Pathan gang member had one motto in life, dhanda, and danda. While his dhanda ranged from extortion, smuggling, and murders, he was one of those who couldn’t keep his danda inside his pants. A known womanizer, he incurs the wrath of the D-company over a period of time. The killing of Dawood’s brother and those under his protection, creating nuisance in his area were a few instances which irked the D-boss. Being Karim Lala’s nephew always worked in Samad’s favor and the police were never able to keep him inside the jail for long. His love for women, many women proves fatal for him when Dawood plays his game. Sending a beautiful girl to lure Samad wasn’t difficult, and even easier was to pump his body with bullets after a night of passion, when he was leaving the place. Although Bombay didn’t have a dearth of gangsters, it was only Samad who showed signs of usurping Dawood. With his killing, Dawood made sure of his undisputed rule over the city.
Underworld. The stories are never-ending. Dons, hitmen, henchmen, punters...all have their share of two minutes of fame sometime or the other. As much as their stories seem full of excitement, unbelievable facts, and out of a typical Bollywood film, it shouldn’t be forgotten that it is, in fact, somebody’s, or a city’s reality. The narration of the hitmen starts with such stories, seemingly fictional yet very true, but ends up being simple stating of the facts. I was looking forward to reading about the mafiosi in more than just paragraphs off a newspaper article. The headings were catchy and like the breaking news headline. The climax was revealed even before the story was halfway, which took a little fun out. Though with great editing and writing style I am not complaining.
Although there are many reasons why one gets into the world of crime, few are extremely common, the lure of money, power, and style. Almost all the hitmen that the author covers, ventured into the underworld because of these reasons. Growing up in the Bombay of 80s and 90s, no young boy or man could have processed the right and wrong before falling prey to the ganglords charm. Another factor that is common to most of the hitmen is that they have been abandoned by their masters at some point in time, the reasons for it may differ, ranging from insecurity or the risk of being exposed or just out of sheer uselessness. Once the young were exploited for their selfish purposes, often the ganglords tipped off the Crime Branch or the police about the movements of the poor men, who would then be liquidated by a team of law enforcing men.
That the politicians, police and the mafia have a relationship, cannot be denied. Their hand-in-hand working is evident whenever one wants to benefit from the other. The give some, take some method applies. There are countless cases wherein the real conspirator is never brought to justice, even when at times pieces of evidence point towards them. Then there is the issue of encounters, fake or actual, no one would ever know, though, in my opinion, it shouldn’t matter till the time it results in wiping the country off hardened criminals who refuse to give up their ways.
I enjoyed reading this factual account, but that in no way means I support the underworld or am insensitive towards the people who have suffered at their hands. This book has made me realize that I have interests in reading more about the Bombay gangs and their history. I think the time is not far when I’ll be seen reading many books on this topic.
The author, a journalist in the 80s, pens down his memories, (interviews, interactions, meetings, pieces of information, and whatnot) about the hitmen of the underworld. During his time in the world of criminal journalism, the author came into contact with Mr. Farooq Batatawala, a devout Muslim and a chuddy buddy of Dawood Ibrahim. Mr. Batatawala’s life could have been the inspiration behind the tons of Bollywood movies made during those times, childhood friendship went haywire, one becomes a don, one a sincere law enforcer. Despite his association with Dawood, Farooq never had the urge to join his friend’s gang, instead, he became a customs officer hell-bent on busting each and every single of the don’s consignment and bring him to books. It is through him that the author comes in touch with Ustara, a small-time hitman with his own group of cronies, who managed to defy Dawood for almost 8 years! Both Farooq and Ustara act as informants for the author during his professional career until Dawood gets the better of them and has them shot and left to die.
Munna Jhingada, a hitman for the D-gang, had humble beginnings compared to what he did later on in his life. A small-time badass in his locality, Munna tastes blood for the first time when he stabs a college bully who succumbs to his death a few hours later. All of nineteen, Munna surrenders almost immediately after the attack only to be bailed a month later on the behest of his lawyer showcasing a clean past record. His stint in the jail makes him wary and he loses his awe of the D-gang, starts working with his father as an apprentice for 3 years before an encounter with the brother of the bully he killed sucks him back into the world of crime. From then, there is no looking back. His journey from a local criminal to being the favorite hitman of the don himself is bathed in blood. He is currently in the Thai prison for the attack on Chota Rajan, while Indian fights a diplomatic battle with Pakistan over his extradition.
When he was just 16 years old, Tanasha had decided the course of his career, that of crime. Having grown up seeing Chota Rajan work his way up the underworld from the lanes of Chembur to the right-hand man of Dawood, Tanasha joins him as soon as he gets the first opportunity. Despite his father’s best efforts to keep him away from the world of crime, Tanasha was attracted to it like iron to a magnet. After the split of Dawood and Chota Rajan in 1993, Tanasha didn’t change his loyalty and ended up in Chota Rajan's newly formed gang and plots against the master of the D-gang. Several failed attempts to kill Dawood in Karachi puts him in the limelight and makes him a target of the rival gang. Having the mouth of a parrot, Tanasha never failed to boast of his relations with the important people and organizations. Having been into hiding for long, he is finally ticked off by Bharat Nepali’s men while he is enjoying some quality time with his family. It was never found out if Nepali acted on his own or was prompted by Dawood for his actions.
The blood-guzzling Bagga, or Baba Reddy as he is known, is probably one of the most notorious characters of the underworld. A devout Hindu, he drank the blood of his victims, mostly Muslims. Over a period of time, he worked for several gangs, but never settled and managed to get in trouble with most of them, thereby increasing the number of his enemies. Having businesses in South East Asia and bank accounts all over the world, Bagga finally sets up base in Hyderabad and forms his own B-gang. It is only when he falls in love with a Muslim girl that he puts aside his communal hate and converts to Islam. Despite numerous cases and an arrest by the police, Bagga remains a free man until a tip-off by one of his close aides results in his encounter.
Shootout at Lokhandwala, the encounter of Maya Dolas. Maya always was a non-descript foot soldier of the D-company, but one day everything changes when he escapes from the court premises by assaulting the policemen accompanying him. Another feather to his cap comes when he kills 3 members of the rival gang in broad daylight, during Ganpati Visarjan. From there, starts his journey towards becoming the most feared gangster in Bombay. Extortion, kidnapping, settlements, you name it, Maya has it. Cursing is his second language, and he speaks a mix of it with his first. As he grows in strength, so does his ego. Apparently, Dawood and his close aides cash in on his reputation. But, karma comes a full circle. Surrounded by the ATS team hell-bent on eliminating him, Maya breathes his last only after 3 months since the day he escaped. Riddled with bullets, Maya is finally sent away from the world by the policemen, finally avenging the assault that was done on 2 of their men.
Sada Pawle, or Sada Mama as he had come to be known in the Arun Gawli gang was the only non-family member to be given such a respect. Suffering from the textile mill strike, Pawle joins the gang in desperate need of money and moves up the rank with some extremely important assignments, one of them is killing the conspirator behind the killing of Gawli’s brother. When Gawli is imprisoned, Pawle becomes the high command which boosts his ego to such levels that he starts defying Gawli himself. From a small mill worker to a ruthless an fearsome gangster, Pawle comes a long way and more so when he has the complete command of the gang. A couple of more daring murders brings him into the notice of Mumbai Police, who after being on his trails for quite some time, finally nail him en route with his brother and sister and gun him down.
Sadiq Kalia, a former Arun Gawli gang member turns his loyalties towards the D-company when his ambitions become too big for his shoes. On being recruited by Chota Shakeel himself, Kalia finds himself thrown into the important assignments and works his way up. His most daring task, the murder of Arun Gawli’s political party’s main man’s murder, which of course, infuriates Gawli. Plus, Kalia’s broad daylight attack on his childhood friend and his subsequent murder puts the police on his heels. It takes a huge force to track the man who is also called Bhoot, one who comes, does his task and vanishes in thin air. As fate would have had it, the police get hold of Kalia’s closest companion and use him to nab the Bhoot. A gunfire battle ensues in the Dadar flower market one late afternoon, where the Bhoot is finally sent to hell.
In a classic tale of brainwashing, the young and intelligent Firoze Kokani ends up in the D-company. Spotted by Sajid Batliwala, this young boy turns into a deadly killing machine, and by young, I mean young. By the time he was 21 years old, Firoze already had more than a dozen murders in his kitty. His killing of the Mathadi workers turns the fate of the Mumbai riots and he is singlehandedly responsible for the second round of communal murders. His rise to fame, the murder of BJP MLA Ramdas Nayak which turns the police heat on him. After a lot of helter-skelter by the men in khaki to nab the murderer, Firoze is arrested from a hotel room. Reluctantly, he helps the police to capture the other conspirators. While the police beam with their success, Firoze already plans his escape, and 3 years later, he implements it and vanishes for years. It is only after his audacity puts off the D-company king that plans for his disposal are made. Tip-off from the man himself lands Firoze in the police’s grip once again, only this time he is made to escape the world forever.
Gangster turns priest. Unlikely, huh? But true. Raju Philips, the Gawli gang loyalist has his day when he agrees to kill a prominent Muslim leader. After Bukhari’s murder, although Raju is arrested, he is never convicted and is subsequently released. Always a Gawli supporter, Raju never shied away from voicing his opinions on public platforms. When he is made the spokesperson for ABP, he uses the position to spew venom against all of Gawli’s rivals. His faith in Gawli was so much that even when he is subjected to third degree by the police, he keeps his mouth shut, which later results in his being limp for the rest of his life. It is strange that he leaves the gang when the new Millenium turns, taking refuge in the church and becoming a Padre. His focus now lies in spreading the message of Jesus, amongst those who are less fortunate to not have found Him yet.
Ravi Bora, or D.K. Rao as he later came to be known as was a small-time crook until he started looting bank vans and came into contact with Chota Rajan’s recruiter in jail. Once out on bail, he starts working for Chota Rajan and sheds his previous name for good. On a tip-off, police follow Rao again when he is about to strike a big loot, ambush him and his men. The gunfire ensues the killing of his 4 men, but with 19 bullets in his body, Rao survives. He also kills Dawood's brother’s personal driver later, bringing him into the notice of the D-company who hires shooters to kill him, and again Rao is saved by destiny when the police nab the shooters before they could complete their task. He remains to be one of the old-timers of the Rajan gang. After his bail, Rao starts operating from his plush office. Although he works under the guise of doing social work (he has opened an NGO), reports suggest otherwise. In the later years, even from within the jail he operates for Chota Rajan.
Sunil Sawant, nicknamed Sautya came from a well-bred family. His father worked for the railways and had brought him up well until the young Sautya found himself making his own gang in the school. His first brush with crime came when he kills Bhau Marathe, a Shiv Sainik in broad daylight, he was fed up of being bullied by him. From there, he first gave his loyalties to the Nair gang, and then was enticed by the D-company. One of the important murders he commits is that of Mahesh Dholakia, whose growing influence was a risk to Dawood. His steady rise in the gang and closeness to the big D himself puts him on the receiving end of Chota Rajan. Also, Sautya’s precarious lifestyle, guns, and women worked together to take him towards his ultimate fate. Sautya was finally gunned down on Dubai streets by Chota Rajan’s men with the help of an ex-wife, in broad daylight, the same way, years ago he had sent his first victim to hell.
Samad Khan, the Pathan gang member had one motto in life, dhanda, and danda. While his dhanda ranged from extortion, smuggling, and murders, he was one of those who couldn’t keep his danda inside his pants. A known womanizer, he incurs the wrath of the D-company over a period of time. The killing of Dawood’s brother and those under his protection, creating nuisance in his area were a few instances which irked the D-boss. Being Karim Lala’s nephew always worked in Samad’s favor and the police were never able to keep him inside the jail for long. His love for women, many women proves fatal for him when Dawood plays his game. Sending a beautiful girl to lure Samad wasn’t difficult, and even easier was to pump his body with bullets after a night of passion, when he was leaving the place. Although Bombay didn’t have a dearth of gangsters, it was only Samad who showed signs of usurping Dawood. With his killing, Dawood made sure of his undisputed rule over the city.
Underworld. The stories are never-ending. Dons, hitmen, henchmen, punters...all have their share of two minutes of fame sometime or the other. As much as their stories seem full of excitement, unbelievable facts, and out of a typical Bollywood film, it shouldn’t be forgotten that it is, in fact, somebody’s, or a city’s reality. The narration of the hitmen starts with such stories, seemingly fictional yet very true, but ends up being simple stating of the facts. I was looking forward to reading about the mafiosi in more than just paragraphs off a newspaper article. The headings were catchy and like the breaking news headline. The climax was revealed even before the story was halfway, which took a little fun out. Though with great editing and writing style I am not complaining.
Although there are many reasons why one gets into the world of crime, few are extremely common, the lure of money, power, and style. Almost all the hitmen that the author covers, ventured into the underworld because of these reasons. Growing up in the Bombay of 80s and 90s, no young boy or man could have processed the right and wrong before falling prey to the ganglords charm. Another factor that is common to most of the hitmen is that they have been abandoned by their masters at some point in time, the reasons for it may differ, ranging from insecurity or the risk of being exposed or just out of sheer uselessness. Once the young were exploited for their selfish purposes, often the ganglords tipped off the Crime Branch or the police about the movements of the poor men, who would then be liquidated by a team of law enforcing men.
That the politicians, police and the mafia have a relationship, cannot be denied. Their hand-in-hand working is evident whenever one wants to benefit from the other. The give some, take some method applies. There are countless cases wherein the real conspirator is never brought to justice, even when at times pieces of evidence point towards them. Then there is the issue of encounters, fake or actual, no one would ever know, though, in my opinion, it shouldn’t matter till the time it results in wiping the country off hardened criminals who refuse to give up their ways.
I enjoyed reading this factual account, but that in no way means I support the underworld or am insensitive towards the people who have suffered at their hands. This book has made me realize that I have interests in reading more about the Bombay gangs and their history. I think the time is not far when I’ll be seen reading many books on this topic.
June 10, 2024
The who’s who of the famed Mumbai mafioso, for a quick perusal.
May 17, 2022
An insight into the lives of some notorious hitmen of the Mumbai mafia. It shows that most of them were drawn to this lifestyle because of the desire for instant justice or unemployment and the promise of quick money coupled with bad company in their formative years. Unlike their leaders at the top of this crime pyramid, most of these henchmen died gruesome deaths by the very guns they held. This book has the potential to be better but the non-linear narrative seems forced to inspire some Bollywood brains. (Some of the author's previous books having been made into Bollywood movies)
April 2, 2018
The Dirty Dozen by Gabriel Khan lends terrific insight into the dreaded mafia hitmen based in the Bombay underworld of the 80s and 90s. For me, as a lifelong enthusiast of the Bombay mafia this was a great memory trip down the years and exploring the fascinating nexus and modus operandi of the various real life characters in here was absolutely fun and amazing. Would recommend this to anyone aware and curious about the Bombay underworld. For people not familiar or not from that era (growing up years or having seen it hands on) this may not be so interesting, vis a vis context.
November 15, 2019
Great real life stories of some of underworld goons of Mumbai . Author nicely portraits tham in this book. Very very exciting reading.
November 16, 2019
After reading Byculla to Bangkok, mafia queens of Mumbai back to back, I was shown this book on suggested reads and with "Free as part of prime" written next to it, how could I resist.
Coming to the book, as the author states at the outset, while chronicling the stories of hitmen, is not as glamorous as writing about dons of the underworld, it is still a worthwile task to understand how the underworld operates.
With the big fish out of the country, how can they terrorise the city? (apparently most of the criminal activities were undertaken in Mumbai city itself). The answer is two fold - appoint managers loyal to you and have hitmen who keep the city under fear by showering all the don's enemies with bullets.
All in all, Gabriel Khan does a good job of presenting us the humans who became monstrous killers due to certain compulsions/factors, their rise through the ranks and ultimately their fall.
Without taking sides and giving us everything objectively is quite possibly the hardest thing to do, but then I guess that is how journalism is suppossed to be. Objective, unbiased, to the point. And in that respect, it is a good book.
Irrelevant verdict: If you are into the crime genre, I think this is a good book to read. On econd thought, it is highly recommended.
Coming to the book, as the author states at the outset, while chronicling the stories of hitmen, is not as glamorous as writing about dons of the underworld, it is still a worthwile task to understand how the underworld operates.
With the big fish out of the country, how can they terrorise the city? (apparently most of the criminal activities were undertaken in Mumbai city itself). The answer is two fold - appoint managers loyal to you and have hitmen who keep the city under fear by showering all the don's enemies with bullets.
All in all, Gabriel Khan does a good job of presenting us the humans who became monstrous killers due to certain compulsions/factors, their rise through the ranks and ultimately their fall.
Without taking sides and giving us everything objectively is quite possibly the hardest thing to do, but then I guess that is how journalism is suppossed to be. Objective, unbiased, to the point. And in that respect, it is a good book.
Irrelevant verdict: If you are into the crime genre, I think this is a good book to read. On econd thought, it is highly recommended.
February 9, 2023
A good place to start if you are interested in Mumbai Mafia
Is this the best book about the Indian Mafia ?
No, but it is interesting to read. It's main focus isn't the Mafia bosses who control everything but the hitmen who did the dirty work for them, for money because of the unemployment problem. This takes us to the era when the rivalry between Dawood Ibrahim and Arun Gawli was at it's peak. We hear about the lives of more than 11 people, how and why they got into organised crime, what their motivations were and where they ended up. Lots of events have already been mentioned in S. Hussain Zaidi's Dongri to Dubai, but here most of the events are told from different people's point of view, so it doesn't feel repetitive, it infact adds another layer to it . S. Hussain Zaidi's book is superior in almost every way but because of how short this is, i would recommend this to those who are curious about this topic. And if you end up liking this, you can get to the really good stuff like "Black Friday' and "Byculla to Bancock" . Bonus points to Gabriel Khan for talking about the time he spent with S. Hussain Zaidi.
7.5/10
Is this the best book about the Indian Mafia ?
No, but it is interesting to read. It's main focus isn't the Mafia bosses who control everything but the hitmen who did the dirty work for them, for money because of the unemployment problem. This takes us to the era when the rivalry between Dawood Ibrahim and Arun Gawli was at it's peak. We hear about the lives of more than 11 people, how and why they got into organised crime, what their motivations were and where they ended up. Lots of events have already been mentioned in S. Hussain Zaidi's Dongri to Dubai, but here most of the events are told from different people's point of view, so it doesn't feel repetitive, it infact adds another layer to it . S. Hussain Zaidi's book is superior in almost every way but because of how short this is, i would recommend this to those who are curious about this topic. And if you end up liking this, you can get to the really good stuff like "Black Friday' and "Byculla to Bancock" . Bonus points to Gabriel Khan for talking about the time he spent with S. Hussain Zaidi.
7.5/10
July 19, 2019
A non-fiction account of the lives (the rise and the eventual fall) of 12 of Mumbai Hitmen. If you grew up in Mumbai in the '80s and '90s you will recognise some of these names from the Mumbai underworld as they were splashed on the front pages as the gang wars raged for the control of Mumbai. The accounts are quite humanising and not glorified as the gangsters struggle with their daily lives amongst the crime escapades they are famous for.
The stories are well written and sustain your attention through the book. A crime chronicle in the same vein as some of other S Hussain Zaidi's books.
The stories are well written and sustain your attention through the book. A crime chronicle in the same vein as some of other S Hussain Zaidi's books.
August 26, 2019
The book is work from the times when the author was reporting crimes for the newspaper he worked. Stories about underworld, mafia dons and shooters always fascinate people in that context it is a good read. I wish the journalist would have taken a slightly back seat while writing this book and the author would have taken driving seat, how ? May be some insights into creation of a shooter, family lives and other such things would have made the reading worthwhile.
While the book contains 12 sharp shooters of various Gangs of Mumbai or erstwhile Bombay, it becomes repetitive. However the last chapter is hilarious and a good read.
While the book contains 12 sharp shooters of various Gangs of Mumbai or erstwhile Bombay, it becomes repetitive. However the last chapter is hilarious and a good read.
October 5, 2019
Hitman's of Mumbai
Mumbai mafia is the turf where Hussain zaidi is unbeatable. The stories can inspires a lot a Bollywood's flicks. Infact some movies are already made and this book contains story of those hitman's like Maya Dolas, the character who used a lot of profane language in his life and when he died there was a scowl and abuse on his face.
Stories in it expains that Dawood was always one step ahead of enemies, I think the corrupt system of those days and the insiders jobs gace that edge to him. I will surely read other books of Zaidi as well
Mumbai mafia is the turf where Hussain zaidi is unbeatable. The stories can inspires a lot a Bollywood's flicks. Infact some movies are already made and this book contains story of those hitman's like Maya Dolas, the character who used a lot of profane language in his life and when he died there was a scowl and abuse on his face.
Stories in it expains that Dawood was always one step ahead of enemies, I think the corrupt system of those days and the insiders jobs gace that edge to him. I will surely read other books of Zaidi as well
August 27, 2020
The writing style of Gabriel seems like a prototype of Zaidi, nonetheless it takes us to the bhaigiri era and keeps us wondering whether to hail the bravado of the mafia or loathe their killings. He takes us to the minds of the Mafia and makes us realise how meticulous and ruthless, the hitmen were and no matter their courage there was always one vice of theirs which led to their downfall.
An interesting read.
An interesting read.
October 8, 2018
A book path into the minds of Hirnen
In the series of Mumbai mafia related books, this is a great addition to add more details and color to zaidi and his characters. The thoroughly researched book adds tremendous value to the information present on mafia and their Hirnen. A fun read overall.
In the series of Mumbai mafia related books, this is a great addition to add more details and color to zaidi and his characters. The thoroughly researched book adds tremendous value to the information present on mafia and their Hirnen. A fun read overall.
December 12, 2019
The book is well researched. Cannot say the same for the writing style. In a book of this sort - profiling hitmen - the story lines can often get repetitive. Its up to the author to take the effort to make them stand out from each other by way of his story telling. And that is where this book falters. The description all ring the same after a while.
February 15, 2022
Straight out of Bollywood movies. Or rather bollywood movies were inspired by the acts of the Bombay underworld. As it was my first book on the mumbai underworld it was fascinating to know about the reckless and callous hitmen. As the old adage goes live by the gun die by the gun, most of the protagonists of the book don't live to tell the story.
July 30, 2018
There were times in this book when I had to stop and remind myself that this was not fiction, this was all real and has actually happened. It's super well-written but lacks universality, you'd have to be from Mumbai and want to read about this topic to like this book.
October 20, 2018
More than money's worth
Hats off to Gabriel Khan. Has enunciated perfectly the ethos of Mumbai and it's Mafia. Thoroughly engrossing. Nobody could have done it any better. Worth a read.
Hats off to Gabriel Khan. Has enunciated perfectly the ethos of Mumbai and it's Mafia. Thoroughly engrossing. Nobody could have done it any better. Worth a read.
November 7, 2018
Fascinating reading !
About the shooters of mumbai underwoeld. wonderful well researched read. Excellent !
Each story is written lucidly and reader can feel the shooters and the scenes of their shooting visually. Fantastic writing
About the shooters of mumbai underwoeld. wonderful well researched read. Excellent !
Each story is written lucidly and reader can feel the shooters and the scenes of their shooting visually. Fantastic writing
March 18, 2021
The kind of life you don't want to live but gets amazed with, draws you to these Mafia stories .
12 Hitman which were no snipers but.know.how to kill and whom to kill are the crux of these stories.
Last one I liked most which is most amusing with no blood of innocent wasted.
12 Hitman which were no snipers but.know.how to kill and whom to kill are the crux of these stories.
Last one I liked most which is most amusing with no blood of innocent wasted.
July 23, 2025
I was a big fan of Hussain Zaidi's Dongri to Dubai and Byculla to Bangkok. However, I found this book to be too choppy and lacking insight. It honestly felt like I was reading Wikipedia pages for the characters in the book
January 12, 2018
not as good a writing style as Hussain Zaidi, but the stories are still engrossing!
December 21, 2018
A quick snapshot into some of the top hitmen of the Mumbai underworld. I prefer zaidi's writing style but this was a nice quick read too.
November 20, 2018
Gripping and informative.
It's gripping and on same lines like the books written by S Hussain Zaidi
Would definitely recommend it to all
It's gripping and on same lines like the books written by S Hussain Zaidi
Would definitely recommend it to all
December 22, 2018
Next collection of hitmen of Mumbai, good narrative and engaging.
May 2, 2019
Fantastic
Could not keep it down. Read it at one go. Gripping tales of the lesser known underworld and its lynchpins
Could not keep it down. Read it at one go. Gripping tales of the lesser known underworld and its lynchpins
June 21, 2019
Killing
An engrossing read. Provides insight about Mumbai underworld mafia. Worth a read, contains stories penned down in a lucid way.
An engrossing read. Provides insight about Mumbai underworld mafia. Worth a read, contains stories penned down in a lucid way.
September 21, 2019
Thanks for the book loving it
💯🔥👍 awesome like it much specially the way the narrative has been developed and of course the chareterization fantastic job
💯🔥👍 awesome like it much specially the way the narrative has been developed and of course the chareterization fantastic job
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