India's most wanted is # 50 in forbes magazine's list of world's most powerful. J Dey explains why the Don shouldn't have made it

Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar (53)
Head
D-Company
India
Age: 53
Rank on Forbes list" 50

Son of a police officer now India's most wanted man. The boss of Mumbai-based organised crime syndicate D-Company, reputedly oversees international drug trafficking, counterfeiting, weapons smuggling.

Suspected al-Qaeda associate; US declares him a global terrorist, UN tried to freeze his assets. Prime suspect in 1993 Bombay blasts that killed 257 people and wounded 713.

Rumour has it he's hiding out in Pakistan, protected by appearance-altering plastic surgery as well as friends in Pakistani intelligence community.

Forbes magazine's list of world's most powerful people

The US magazine well known for its lists world's billionaires, world's richest, most popular, most influential, celebrity 100 etc has published a list in its latest edition on the world's most powerful people.

Figuring 50th on the list, is India's most wanted man, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar.

The list, says Forbes, has been compiled primarily on three dimensions. First, do they have influence over lots of other people? Do they control relatively large financial resources compared to their peers? Are they powerful in multiple spheres?

MiD DAY investigates each of these dimensions to realise Forbes should have given Dawood a miss. Here's why.

Influence over lots of people?

Crime Branch investigations indicate that Dawood has almost slipped into hibernation. More important, he has been completely out of touch with his frontline shooters or the rank and file.

His only contact is with senior Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) officers in Karachi and Rawalpindi.u00a0 The Baluchis and Pathans are opposed to Dawood and his associates, mainly because of his proximity to the ISI.

And then, D-gang members are unhappy that family has been holding key positions.

Even though Chhota Shakeel is his u00a0right hand man, it is Dawood's brother Mustaqueen who is being groomed to take charge as the don heads towards retirement.

The Dawood gang do have their men in places like Jogeshwari, Bandra, Dongri and Bhendi Bazaar, but their influence has been diminishing in recent years.

Control relatively large financial resources compared to their peers?

Dawood runs his empire under the protection of the ISI. In fact, ever since the 1993 Mumbai blasts when Dawood shifted base to Karachi, it is the ISI that has ensured his finances do not run dry. Dawood has an asset base of approximately Rs 10,000 crore.



But the geographical shift created a power vacuum in Mumbai. Consequently, his former lieutenant Chhota Rajan moved in and now holds sway over the northern suburbs of Mumbai, formerly a Dawood territory. He has an asset base of Rs 200 crore.

Are they powerful in u00a0multiple spheres?

Sources close to Dawood in Karachi told this newspaper that the ageing don spends most of his time at his indoor swimming pool.

He rarely entertains visitors. Chhota Shakeel is a regular visitor to the palatial bungalow in Friend's Colony in Central Karachi. In effect, yet again, geography dictates his ebb in power in multiple spheres.

Voices

I am shocked to hear of [Dawood in] the Forbes list of most powerful
D Sivanandan, u00a0u00a0Mumbai Commissioner of Police