Dawood to Retire at 60; Expected to Announce Succession Plan

Dawood is likely to be succeeded by one of his brothers Anees Ahmed.

Dawood Ibrahim. (Photo Courtesy: Hindustan Times and TimesNow)

Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is likely to name his successor when he turns sixty this Saturday, 26 December and one of his brothers, Anees Ahmed, may be the front-runner. Sources told Mumbai Mirror that Dawood’s trusted lieutenant Chhota Shakeel often referred to as the gang CEO, will most likely retain his position. However, the news about Dawood stepping down has not been confirmed yet.

(Photo Courtesy: Dawood Ibrahim’s Twitter page)

Here’s Dawood retirement plans, as outlined by the Mumbai Mirror report:

• Word from Karachi is that the successor will be named at an opulent birthday celebration on Saturday, when Dawood turns 60.
  
• Dawood has decided that his failing health will not allow him to stay at the helm of D-company’s $10-billion multinational empire of drugs, betting, hawala, and arms smuggling.
  
• However, the gangster is likely to remain active in the gang for at least couple of years more and help in the transition.
  
• Dawood now has three brothers living with him – Anees, Humayun and Mustaqeem. Anees is likely to succeed Dawood, who, along with Shakeel, runs the gang’s day-to-day operations.
  
• Dawood is known to consult his two grown-up children Mahrukh and Moin, who are believed to have convinced Dawood to cut his workload.

• It’s pragmatic for Dawood to clearly earmark and allocate the businesses and properties before the inevitable happen, claimed his relatives based in Mumbai.
  
• The Mumbai Police and central agencies are keeping a watch on those invited to Saturday’s bash in Karachi. The agencies already have in their possession a list of 35 invitees from the United Arab Emirates, including some members of the royal family and influential diplomats.

• Some argue that Dawood would not like to relinquish the gang’s control just as yet.
  
• Nevertheless, clandestine parties and mehfils are slyly planned in various places in south Mumbai, and other predominantly Muslim localities as also in Dubai to mark the celebrations.