Don ka phataka

Diwali bonuses for gangs include sexual favours, branded clothes and feast dabbas for prison inmates

Diwali bonuses for gangs include sexual favours, branded clothes and feast dabbas for prison inmates

Diwali is a time when most of Mumbai's gangsters want to renew their bonds with the shooters and buy their loyalties. Money is distributed to gang members so that their families can celebrate a lavish Diwali. This year, 'dry fruit' has sent only a small mithai-ka-dabba to their tiklis, thanks to the global slowdown and heat turned on by Mumbai police. 'Dry fruit' refers to the don and mithai-ka-dabba is the bonus sent to members of the gang on the eve of Diwali and tiklis are the shooters.



"Gangsters holed up overseas usually try to call their relatives and speak to them during the festival season. In some cases, they arrange for their family members to slip away to secret destinations abroad to meet them. Normally, they gamble and drink,'' says Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner of Police, crime.

Lock up festivities
"Diwali is a time when dons don't want to disappoint. Gangsters usually get nostalgic and emotional during festivals. A lapse would be taken very seriously,'' informs a former prison inmate and gang member. Chhota Rajan allegedly ensures that his men in prisons are given a lavish treatment. A grand spread is arranged with biryani topping the menu list. Almost all the members are also provided with new clothes especially jeans, informs a source.

Call girl bookings for gangster aides also shoot up during Diwali

In turn, this gangster Diwali spells bonus time for the jail staff too. Gangs allegedly have to pay steep taxes for every item smuggled into the jail. Insiders inform that most of the demands are for a pair of jeans, T-shirts, sport shoes and branded whiskey. It is boom time for dabbawallas too, who provide food to the gangs. The menu lists are often upgraded so it's a windfall for the cooks and errand boys.

Gangster turned cooks
If the gangster is in hiding, most of the time is spent indoors, allegedly gambling and consuming liquor. Call girl bookings also shoot up during Diwali. In fact, most gangsters, especially those who belong to the Chhota Rajan gang are great cooks, reveals a source. The coterie of cooks get together to whip up a feast. While Rajan prefers to sit on a sofa or bed, his cronies sit on the floor. A long session of ragging often precedes dinner and drinks during festival.

Diwali rokda
The gangs usually go on a collection drive few days before the Diwali. The money usually comes from the dhoors or targets. The most common targets are builders and jewellers, whose sales go up during the festival. Bar owners also contribute to the gang's coffers.

Gawli's celebrations
Members of the Arun Gawli gang are allegedly entitled to bonuses as most of his associates are on a regular pay roll. Clothes and sweets are distributed among associates and family members. This is in addition to the cash bonus.

Police party
Some corrupt cops also get ready to party during Diwali as some of the extortion money gained from the targets is allegedly passed onto the police, considered to be 'white collared' associates by the gangsters. Even gangsters such as Dawood Ibrahim and his second-in-command Chhota Shakeel are allegedly known for ensuring that their most favoured policemen have a good time during Diwali. While some corrupts officers are allegedly gifted cars and apartments, constables are gifted cash to buy clothes and merchandise like televisions and refrigerators. There is money for the local police station staff too, reveal sources. This is to ensure that they go soft on members of their gang.

Dons and their big diwali handouts
Jeans, shoes and A-grade biryani