Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel no longer buddies? Maybe, maybe not

Has a rift developed between dreaded underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his long-time aide Chhota Shakeel, as reports so suggest? Perhaps, but the reports seem far-fetched, sources within the security establishment say.

IndiaToday.in  | Written by Dev Goswami
New Delhi, December 13, 2017 | UPDATED 13:02 IST
Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is a prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case (FILE)Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is a prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case (FILE)

Highlights

  • 1
    Rift between Dawood, Chhota Shakeel over Anees Ibrahim's role: Reports
  • 2
    Reports seem far-fetched, sources tell India Today TV.
  • 3
    Rumours of rift may have been spread by D-Company members themselves: Sources

Has underworld don Dawood Ibrahim fallen out with his long-time trusted lieutenant Chhota Shakeel? Reports saying that have been doing the rounds today, but sources within the security establishment have expressed scepticism.

Dawood and Chhota Shakeel may very well have had a falling out, the sources told India Today TV, but the reports seem a bit far-fetched. The rumours of the split could have been circulated by members of Dawood's gang, informally called the D-Company, themselves in a bid to thwart the counter-Dawood offensive launched by multiple agencies in India.

At the same time, the sources further went on to say, it must be noted that Chhota Shakeel and Dawood's younger brother Anees Ibrahim often do not see eye-to-eye on several issues. According to new reports, it was a fight with Dawood over Anees's influence in the D-Company that led to Shakeel parting ways with his long-time boss.

Chhota Shakeel, whose real name is Shakeel Shaikh, is seen the enforcer in D-Company. Believed to be Dawood's key commander, Shakeel is seen to have sidelined Anees and taken on a CEO-like role in running the gang.

Chhota Shakeel's influence in D-Company is said to have increased after Dawood had a falling out with Shakeel's namesake Chhota Rajan. Shakeel, incidentally, is believed to have planned an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Rajan, now in the custody of the Central Buearu of Investigation.

Dawood, Indian security agencies have long believed, is hiding in Pakistan's Karachi under the protection of the country's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The terror mastermind is one of the main accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

India Today TV recently aired audio clips that had Dawood transacting business with his gang members. Security sources had told India Today TV then that the calls had been traced to a safehouse in Karachi.

(With inputs from Sahil Joshi in Mumbai)