India has experienced its own batch of criminals, gangsters, and terrorists who have perpetrated gruesome crimes like organized crime, killings, and terror crimes. While some of them have been Indian-based, others have had their connections abroad. All of them have left their mark on India’s security and law and order system.
Following is the profile of 10 most wanted men in India, notorious for being criminals with a bad reputation.
1. Dawood Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim is India’s prime wanted criminal, accused of running an international crime syndicate. He is accused of masterminding the 1993 blasts in Mumbai in which over 250 people died. His connection with the underworld and terrorists, as well as his drug racket, has listed him as the country’s prime wanted criminal on the list for decades.
- Charges: Terrorist activities, drug trafficking, extortion, sale of arms
- Current Status: In hiding in Pakistan (from intelligence reports)
- Affiliation: D-Company
2. Tiger Memon
Tiger Memon was one of the main conspirators of the 1993 Mumbai blasts, together with Dawood Ibrahim. He was an active participant in hatching the plans and plotting to attack India’s financial center.
- Charges: Terrorism, bomb blasts, criminal conspiracy
- Current Status: Escaped India, suspected to be in Pakistan
- Affiliation: D-Company
3. Chhota Rajan
From being a faithful lieutenant of Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan became his nemesis. He was involved in contract killings, extortion, and organized crime. All illegal activities in Mumbai were under the control of his gang until he was detained.
- Charges: Extortion, murder, drug trade
- Current Status: Arrested in 2015, undergoing life imprisonment in India
- Affiliation: D-Company, founded his own gang afterward
4. Abu Salem
Abu Salem was a prime operative of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang and one of the masterminds of the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He was also charged in various cases of extortion and contract killings.
- Charges: Terrorism, murder, extortion
- Current Status: Serving a life sentence in India
- Affiliation: D-Company
5. Yasin Bhatkal
Yasin Bhatkal founded Indian Mujahideen, a terror group that carried out a series of bomb blasts in India. He caused blasts in which many innocent lives were lost.
- Charges: Terrorism, bomb blasts, waging war against India
- Current Status: Arrested in 2013, serving life imprisonment
- Affiliation: Indian Mujahideen
6. Ravi Pujari
Ravi Pujari is a contract killer and extortion gangster operating primarily from Mumbai. He was notorious for extorting money from Bollywood stars and businessmen.
- Charges: Murder, extortion, organized crime
- Current Status: Extradited from Senegal, in Indian custody
- Affiliation: Independent gang
7. Veerappan
Veerappan was a forest bandit and sandalwood smuggler operating in the Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala forests. He was accused of poaching elephants, smuggling sandalwood, and killing police officers.
- Charges: Murder, kidnapping, smuggling, poaching
- Current Status: Assassinated during a police action in 2004
- Affiliation: Controlled a splinter group with his gang in forest areas
8. Naxalite Chief Ganapathy (Muppala Lakshmana Rao)
Ganapathy was the former chief of the banned Maoist militant CPI (Maoist) group which has mounted armed attacks against policemen, government officials, and civilians. Ganapathy was responsible for propagating the Maoist movement to many states.
- Charges: Terrorism, armed rebellion, attack on security forces
- Current Status: Believed to be in hiding
- Affiliation: CPI (Maoist)
9. Santosh Shetty
Ex-Chhota Rajan gangster, Santosh Shetty headed his own gang thereafter. He was charged with several cases of extortion and gang war against him.
- Charges: Organized crime, extortion, murder
- Current Status: Arrested in 2011, in prison
- Affiliation: Independent gang
10. Munna Bajrangi
Munna Bajrangi was a dreaded gangster of Uttar Pradesh involved in contract killings and extortion. He had faced numerous criminal charges over the last decades and was among the most feared men in the area.
- Charges: Murder, extortion, contract killings
- Current Status: Killed while under arrest in 2018
- Affiliation: Uttar Pradesh crime syndicates
FAQs
Who is the most dangerous criminal in India?
Dawood Ibrahim is considered the most dangerous criminal in India due to his involvement in terrorism, organized crime, and international smuggling.
Is Chhota Rajan still alive?
Yes, Chhota Rajan is alive and currently serving his sentence in India after being arrested in 2015.
Who was the most feared gangster in Mumbai?
Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, and Abu Salem were among the most feared gangsters in Mumbai’s underworld.
What happened to Veerappan?
Veerappan was shot dead in a police shootout in 2004 after being on the run for decades.
Who is Munna Bajrangi, and why was he murdered?
Munna Bajrangi was an Uttar Pradesh-based contract killer. He was murdered in a prison in 2018, reportedly due to gang rivalry.