The grapevine was rife with speculation all of Monday that India’s most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim had been hospitalised in Pakistan due to poisoning. The news sent the internet into a tizzy in Pakistan, raising concerns about efforts to hide information about Dawood’s serious illness and its potential consequences.
Several netizens provided screenshots featuring a message purportedly from Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar announcing the death of Dawood Ibrahim. This message, however, was later revealed to be fake.
The viral message said, “The Messiah of humanity, dear to every Pakistani heart, our beloved His Excellency Dawood Ibrahim passed away due to poisoned by unknown. He breathed his last in a hospital in Karachi. May Allah grant him the highest position in Jannat. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, DFRAC, an unbiased fact-checking site, stated that the username depicted in the viral screenshot does not relate to Mr. Kakar’s actual account.
It went on to say that the username in the screenshot had an extra k and that Mr Kakar’s last post on his X account was on December 16.
A recent report has also put to rest the rumours about Dawood Ibrahim’s death. Following two days of research, News18 has confirmed that the gangster is alive and well through an exclusive discussion with his aide and close friend Chhota Shakeel who revealed that his boss was fit and healthy and that the rumours were malicious.
Death Rumours in the Past:
Unverified reports about Dawood Ibrahim’s severe illness or death have also surfaced in the past. India’s most sought-after criminal has been rumoured to have died on many occasions.
In 2016, rumours circulated that Ibrahim could have to have his leg amputated owing to acute gangrene. These reports, however, were utterly false and unjustified.
In 2017, rumours circulated that Dawood had died of a heart attack or a brain tumour. His close aide, Chota Shakeel, affirmed his good health, proving the rumours incorrect.
In 2020, there were reports of Dawood Ibrahim and his wife contracting COVID-19, which appeared to be true in the wake of the pandemic – there were claims that he had died of the infection. These reports, however, were debunked, and Dawood survived the disease.
A report by Times Now quoted sources as saying that Dawood’s nephews confirmed his bad physical state and health difficulties, but had disputed reports that he was “poisoned.”
The name Dawood cloaked in mystery and controversy, rose from the shadows of crime history as a character wrapped in ambiguity and controversy. Born in the busy streets of Mumbai, India, his rise to the underworld was rapid and covert, making him one of history’s most notorious and tricky crime lords.
He is accused of masterminding this horrible act of the Mumbai Bombings, which killed over 250 people and injured hundreds more. The explosives used in these bombings were thought to have been coordinated by his criminal enterprise, D-Company.
In 2020, Pakistan unintentionally acknowledged Dawood’s presence within its territory by including his name in a list submitted to the global anti-terror funding body- the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
According to the reports, Dawood frequently changes his locations and addresses in Pakistan, where he has amassed large property while travelling with the assistance and protection of Pakistani services.
Dawood Ibrahim’s criminal company has been linked to extortion, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and organised crime in addition to the Bombay bombings. His syndicate, D-Company, became well-known for its international reach and involvement in a variety of unlawful cross-border operations.
Furthermore, Dawood Ibrahim has been accused of coordinating a slew of additional criminal operations – though direct proof and convictions in connection with these charges have frequently proven fleeting due to his ambiguous character and extensive network of protection. His claimed involvement in criminal enterprises spans several decades and includes a wide range of unlawful operations, cementing his reputation as a formidable and volatile figure in the criminal world.
