Mumbai once lived under the shadow of gang wars, extortion and public shootings. Over the decades, sustained police action weakened the city’s organised crime networks, and the underworld gradually faded from everyday life into the world of films and crime fiction.
However, recent incidents, including the shooting targeting actor Tiger Shroff while he was inside his car, have renewed concerns about organised crime in Mumbai. The developments have prompted questions about the safety of Bollywood personalities and whether the city could be witnessing a resurgence of the kind of criminal intimidation associated with the 1990s.
The concerns centre partly on the activities attributed to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, whose alleged involvement in high-profile crimes has drawn attention from investigators. The murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, which Mumbai Police attributed to the gang, has further intensified scrutiny of its activities.
When Mumbai Lived Under the Shadow of Gangsters
During the early 1990s, Dawood Ibrahim emerged as one of the most influential figures in Mumbai’s underworld. Gang rivalries, extortion and contract killings affected businesses, property developers, the film industry and other sections of society.
Police encounters became a defining feature of the crackdown on organised crime. Reports from that period describe hundreds of gangsters being killed in police shootings, although the circumstances surrounding some encounters later came under scrutiny.
The authorities also strengthened their legal response to organised crime. The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) became an important instrument in investigations and prosecutions involving criminal networks.
Over time, arrests, convictions and sustained police operations weakened several prominent gangs. By the early 2000s, Mumbai had begun moving away from the period when underworld figures openly influenced parts of its business and entertainment sectors.
How Mumbai’s Underworld Lost Its Grip
The operations of several major gangs declined as their leaders were arrested, imprisoned or forced to operate from outside India.
Dawood Ibrahim’s D Company gradually reduced its visible presence on Mumbai’s streets, although its alleged wider criminal network did not disappear entirely. Chhota Rajan was arrested in Bali and later brought to India, while Abu Salem and Arun Gawli were imprisoned in separate cases.
Other prominent criminal figures also saw their operations disrupted. As a result, the direct influence of the traditional Mumbai underworld diminished substantially compared with its peak during the 1990s.
The latest shooting incidents have nevertheless revived concerns about whether newer criminal networks could attempt to establish influence through threats, targeted violence and high-profile attacks.
Baba Siddique’s Murder and the Bishnoi Gang
The murder of Baba Siddique brought renewed attention to the alleged activities of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Mumbai Police attributed the killing to members of the gang, raising concerns about its ability to carry out or coordinate violent acts.
The case also prompted questions about whether attacks on prominent individuals could serve broader objectives, including intimidation and the expansion of a criminal network’s reputation.
However, the motives behind individual crimes must be established through evidence and investigation. A high-profile killing or shooting, by itself, does not establish that a gang has successfully taken control of Mumbai’s underworld.
From Dawood Ibrahim to Lawrence Bishnoi
Mumbai’s criminal landscape has changed considerably since the era dominated by Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and other established gang leaders.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has attracted attention for its alleged involvement in cases extending beyond its original operating areas. Investigators have examined its networks, associates and alleged capacity to coordinate criminal activity across state and international borders.
Social media has also become a prominent feature of the way criminal groups claim responsibility for attacks or issue threats. Such claims can amplify fear and attract public attention, but their authenticity and the individuals behind them require independent verification.
Some police officers familiar with organised crime have reportedly expressed concerns that the Bishnoi network may seek to expand its influence and develop an international presence. Comparisons with D Company reflect these concerns, rather than proof that the newer gang has achieved a similar level of control.
Is Mumbai Returning to the 1990s?
The shooting targeting Tiger Shroff has raised legitimate questions about public safety and the ability of organised criminal networks to intimidate prominent individuals. Yet, determining whether Mumbai is returning to its underworld era requires more than comparisons based on isolated incidents.
The scale of criminal activity, the frequency of extortion and contract killings, the reach of organised networks, and the effectiveness of law enforcement are all relevant measures.
Mumbai’s experience over the past three decades demonstrates that organised crime networks can be weakened through sustained investigations, effective prosecutions and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
For now, the recent incidents underline the need for investigators to establish responsibility, identify possible motives and determine whether the attacks form part of a wider criminal pattern.
Whether the developments represent a broader resurgence of organised crime or a series of separate incidents remains a question for evidence-led investigation. What is clear is that attacks involving prominent public figures have renewed attention on Mumbai’s security and the evolving methods of organised criminal networks.