India has a past in which crime has been a very large and, at the same time, very complex element; in that we see the rise to notoriety of individuals from Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other regions. Some of these went on to perform what you may term as traditional underworld functions like extortion, smuggling and contract killings; others saw the growth of the criminal networks which crossed international borders.
Here is a report we have put together of 20 very well-known Indian gangsters and organised crime players based on what is public knowledge of them and what is reported about their connections within the criminal communities. Also, this is not a ranking of which is which in terms of their criminal influence and fame.
- Dawood Ali.
Dawood Ibrahim is a public figure on the world stage when it comes to India’s organised crime past. Also, the Indian government has labelled him a designated terrorist per the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
2. Little Shakeel.
Chhota has been a member of the D-Company group for a long time and is a main player in the Mumbai underworld. The Home Ministry includes him in the list of designated individuals under UAPA.
3. Small Rajan.
Chhota Rajan rose to prominence in Mumbai’s criminal circles and at one point was connected to Dawood Ibrahim before the two groups which we’re associated with went to war. He was arrested in Indonesia in 2015 and then brought back to India.
4. Arun Gawli.
Arun Gawli is more popular is to call him “Daddy” and became a key figure in Mumbai’s underworld. Also, he got into electoral politics and, at one point in time, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Maharashtra.
5. Lawrence Bishnoi, which also refers to Lawrance Bishnoi or L. Bishnoi.
Lawrence Bishnoi is a name that has come to the fore in association with today’s organised crime in India. For years, he has been in police custody, while at the same time international agencies have been looking into what is reported to be his large-scale activity, which extends to many in his group. The NIA reports a terror-gangster plot which includes the Lawrence Bishnoi crew.
6. Goldie Brar.
Satwinder Singh, who goes by Goldy Brar, is a name associated by Indian authorities and investigators with that of the Lawrence Bishnoi network. The Indian government has him listed under UAPA as well, and the U.S. has issued a warrant for his reported serious crimes.
7. Anmol Singh Bishnoi.
Anmol Bishnoi is the brother of Lawrence Bishnoi and reports that he was a close associate in the put-together terror-gangster network. Anmol’s arrest, which was announced in November 2025, took place after his return from the U.S. deportation.
8. Abu Saleem.
Abu Salem is known for what is reported to be his role in Mumbai’s organised crime groups and the 1993 bomb blasts. In 2005, he was sent back to India from Portugal, which then brought forth many criminal cases against him.
9. Tiger Memon.
Ibrahim “Tiger” Memon is also a well-known name in relation to the 1993 Mumbai bombings. The Ministry of Home Affairs has listed Ibrahim Memon as a designated individual under UAPA.
10. Javed Khan.
Javed Dawood Tailor, also known as Javed Chikna, has ties to the D-Company network. He is also named in the Ministry of Home Affairs’ list of designated individuals under UAPA.
11. Ravi Kumar Pujari.
Ravi Pujari became known for his role in which it was claimed he was involved in extortion of businesspeople and public figures. In 2019, he was arrested in Senegal and in 2020 he was sent back to India.
12. Santosh Pawar.
Santosh Shetty’s name is linked to Mumbai’s organised crime scene; it is reported that he ran his criminal enterprises out of the country.
13. Suresh K Pujari.
In the case of organised crime, Suresh Pujari also had a hand in it. He was arrested in the Philippines and brought back to India to stand trial.
14. Bharat of Nepal.
In Mumbai, Bharat Nepali, which is what we know of as a player in the world of organised crime, was also, at a given time, a rival to the main players in that scene. He died in 2010 in Nepal.
15. Vikram Dubey.
Vikas Dubey came to the notice of the nation after the 2020 ambush in Kanpur, in which 8 police personnel died. Also, he was killed in a police encounter when they were taking him to Kanpur.
16. Anupam Singh.
Anandpal Singh, who is the name of a notable gangster, hails from Rajasthan which he was a part of many serious criminal cases. In 2017, he died in a police encounter.
17. Kala Jathedi.
Sandeep, who goes by Kala Jathedi, has a history with organised crime groups which operate in the north of India. Also, his name is associated with a number of reports which detail gang activities and criminal affairs.
18. Neeraj from Bawana.
In Delhi, which is home to many dacoits, Neeraj Bawana has come to be known for his association with organised criminal networks and in the north of India he is known for gang rivalries. Also, for a while now, he has been in prison as a result of various criminal charges brought against him.
19. Rohit Kumar Godara.
Rohit Godara has become a key figure in today’s organised crime. He is reported to have associations with criminal groups which operate within and outside India. Also recently reported is his association with other crime networks in the north of the country.
20. Jaggan Bhagwanpuria.
Jagtar Singh, who is also known as Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, has a history of association with organised crime in Punjab. His name comes up in reports of gang rivalries and serious criminal cases.
Transforming Face of Organised Crime in India.
In recent years, what we have seen is a transformation of the nature of organised crime in India. Earlier, it was dominated by Mumbai-based syndicates which had strong ties to smuggling, extortion and local business control. Today we see groups which operate across state and international borders, use encrypted communication and social media and have associates overseas.
Lawrence Bishnoi is a case in point. Indian as well as international law enforcement has looked into reports of association between the gangster, the extortionists, foreign-based agents and other elements of organised crime.
Final Thoughts
In the past, we have looked at a range of players which include different time periods and regions in India’s organised crime past. Some of these are historical personages, and some are present-day, which are still in the midst of investigation or legal proceedings. It is also important to put forward the difference between what is alleged and what is proven, especially when we talk of current living individuals.
In the 2026’s we see law enforcement agencies report to be still dealing with the issue of growth in organized crime, international networks, financial operations and gang-related violence.
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