Mumbai: In a shocking revelation about alleged links between the Mumbai Police and the underworld, senior journalist Balakrishnan from The Free Press Journal has claimed that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim once received a phone call from a serving Assistant Police Commissioner seeking money for his daughter’s wedding.
During an exclusive conversation with former Maharashtra DGP and ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandhan, the journalist narrated the incident that allegedly took place during his visit to Dawood’s palatial residence in Dubai, known as the “White House.”
Balakrishnan said, “While I was talking to him, his PA came and said there’s a call for you. Dawood winked at me to stay quiet and put the call on speaker.” He added that during the call, the officer said, ‘Sir, apki beti ki shaadi hai, toh apka yaad aaya.’ Dawood reportedly asked, ‘Kitna chahiye?’ to which the officer replied, ‘Jo aapko theek lage, aapki beti ki shaadi hai.’ Dawood then allegedly sent ₹10 lakh.
Reacting to the revelation, ex-DGP Sivanandhan said that while such incidents may occur, it is unfair to label the entire police force as corrupt. “Not every officer among Maharashtra’s 2.5 lakh police personnel, including 50,000 in Mumbai, is tainted. We recruit them from society — and society brings all shades of people,” he explained.
Sivanandhan further pointed out the deep social links between police personnel and criminals. “In many raids, we found police uniforms in gangster homes. Sometimes a policeman’s sister was married to a gangster. They live very closely in society,” he said.
He admitted that some officers do succumb to the lure of money, adding, “The irresistible amount of money offered by gangsters is unbelievable. Policemen are succumbing to that.”
The former top cop also questioned the government’s support for officers facing such temptations. “What protection or assurance does the government give to policemen to resist such offers? When they are prosecuted, not even a lawyer is provided to them,” Sivanandhan remarked.
The revelation once again brings focus to the long-debated nexus between the police and the underworld in Mumbai’s crime history.
