Once upon a time, Mumbai’s Underworld was the stuff of legends—an era that inspired countless movies, books, and crime thrillers. The city’s streets echoed with the sounds of shootouts, gang rivalries, and sensational police encounters. Extortion rackets ran rampant, and the underworld operated with an iron grip. Among the infamous names that loomed large in Mumbai’s crime syndicates, one figure stood out—DK Rao, the chief lieutenant of Chhota Rajan and one of the most feared gangsters in the city.
Known as Ravi Mallesh Bora, DK Rao has long been a key player in organised crime, his name deeply entrenched in Mumbai’s police records since the 1990s. His criminal journey has been marked by an endless cycle of arrests, court appearances, and strategic escapes. Recently, he was arrested yet again by the Mumbai Crime Branch, along with six of his associates, for allegedly threatening a 74-year-old hotelier in Marol Naka, Andheri East, in a case of extortion. His arrest is another chapter in a crime-ridden life that has seen numerous convictions, yet he has remained a formidable figure within the underworld.
Rao’s notoriety extends beyond extortion and street crime. He has been a central player in executing violent crimes from within the walls of prison itself. In 2002, while incarcerated at Arthur Road Jail, he allegedly orchestrated the murder of OP Singh, a former close associate of Chhota Rajan who had begun distancing himself from the gang. As Singh was imprisoned in Nashik Jail, Rao and his associates managed to get themselves transferred there and, in a brutal attack, strangled Singh to death. This incident was a testament to the deep-seated nexus between criminals and law enforcement at the time—a period when the underworld’s reach extended well beyond the streets.
The Mumbai underworld was rife with betrayals, shifting allegiances, and brutal encounters. While many of his contemporaries perished in gang wars or police encounters, Rao survived—sometimes by sheer luck, other times by deception. In one encounter, he was shot and presumed dead along with four other gangsters, only for the police to later realise that he had feigned death and escaped. His survival instincts allowed him to outlive the deadly feud between Chhota Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim’s gangs that spanned over three decades. Not just a survivor, Rao himself led multiple attacks on members of Dawood’s syndicate, further cementing his place in Mumbai’s criminal hierarchy.
His latest arrest is linked to what he does best—extortion. A restaurant owner found himself entangled in a dispute with a partner who attempted to swindle him out of his property. Rao allegedly stepped in to mediate, not as a peacemaker but as an enforcer for the opposing party. The victim was threatened with dire consequences, including death, if he failed to comply. However, unlike past incidents where intimidation worked in Rao’s favor, this time, the restaurant owner sought police intervention. In an unusually swift operation, the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Rao and his associates, marking yet another fall in his long-standing criminal career.
Despite having over 40 criminal cases against him, Rao has always found a way to maneuver through the legal system. The problem, as often seen in such cases, is that high-profile criminals like Rao rarely stay behind bars for long. Witnesses turn hostile, cases drag on for years, and legal loopholes are exploited. His past incarcerations have followed a predictable pattern—arrest, imprisonment, legal battles, and eventual release, only to return to his old ways.
Rao’s criminal empire has not only survived but evolved over time. His clout in Mumbai’s notorious Dharavi area is formidable, and his involvement in extortion, land disputes, and contract killings continues. Even after multiple police encounters, he remains one of the few gangsters who have survived against all odds. In 1998, he endured a close call with the Mumbai police, sustaining seven bullet wounds yet managing to escape with his life. Over the years, he has adapted to the changing nature of crime, extending his influence to slum redevelopment projects and illicit financial dealings. The recent arrest came after a complaint from Ramdas Vishwakarma, a senior citizen, who accused Rao’s gang of demanding ₹2.5 crore from him under threats of violence.
With Chhota Rajan currently in judicial custody at Delhi’s Tihar Jail, many speculated that his criminal network would wither away. However, police sources suggest otherwise. Rajan’s syndicate, though weakened, remains operational through loyal operatives like Rao, who ensure that extortion, intimidation, and financial dealings continue seamlessly. While Rao’s latest arrest may be seen as a temporary setback for the gang, it is unlikely to dismantle their operations entirely. According to police officials, Rajan’s network of shooters, informers, and financiers remains intact, with others ready to take Rao’s place if necessary.
The ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch delves deeper into Rao’s financial transactions, particularly his alleged involvement in property dispute meditations for personal gains. The forensic analysis of voice notes found on the mobile phones of his associates, including Abubakar Siddiqui, is underway, and law enforcement is determined to trace the money trail linking Rao to these extortion activities. His arrest, alongside co-accused Abubakar Abdullah Siddiqui, Imran Kaleem Shaikh, Riyaz Kaleem Shaikh, Asif Sattan Khan alias Saif Durbar, Javed Jalaluddin Khan, and Hanif Ismail Naik alias Annu Bhai, underscores the persistent attempts by law enforcement to crack down on underworld syndicates.
Rao’s survival in the treacherous world of Mumbai’s underworld is a story in itself. From his impoverished beginnings in Matunga’s slums to becoming one of the most feared gangsters in the city, his rise to power was marked by violence and ruthless ambition. Starting as a small-time thief, he soon found his way into bank robberies, extortion rackets, and targeted killings under the tutelage of Chhota Rajan. When the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts created a schism between Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim, Rao chose loyalty, rejecting overtures from Chhota Shakeel to switch sides. That decision made him a marked man, with Dawood’s men and even law enforcement tracking his every move. Yet, time and again, he outmaneuvered both.
His ability to navigate the murky waters of Mumbai’s underworld has ensured his longevity, but history suggests that no gangster remains invincible forever. While his latest arrest may appear as yet another episode in a long saga of crime and evasion, law enforcement authorities remain hopeful that this time, justice will prevail. As Mumbai evolves, so does its crime landscape. Yet, the ghosts of its underworld past continue to linger, waiting for the next chapter to unfold.
