The Forgotten Don: Unpacking the Old Guard of Mumbai's Underworld The recent spotlight on Dawood Ibrahim's reign in Mumbai's underworld has sparked renewed interest in the city's crime history.
However, this narrative often overlooks the preceding era, where three dons – Karim Lala, Haji Mastan, and Varadarajan Mudaliar – ruled over the city with a complex blend of power, influence, and community ties.
Their stories offer a nuanced understanding of how organized crime evolved in Mumbai.