Notorious oil mafia don Mohammed Ali Shaikh succumbs to COVID-19

Shaikh also contested the 2009 Lok Sabha polls from south Mumbai on a BSP ticket against Congress’s Milind Deora. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Oil mafia don Mohammed Ali Shaikh who built an empire by smuggling diesel died of COVID on Sunday. The 65-year-old was buried at Nariyalwadi Kabristan in South Mumbai. Sources said the Nagpada resident is survived by three wives and seven children.

Shaikh faced multiple cases of diesel and red sandal smuggling. Originally from Allahabad, he arrived in Mumbai in the late 80s and started with a cycle tyre puncture shop near the docks. He quickly switched over to oil smuggling and became the king of the illegal business.

Sources said Shaikh's men would buy diesel from ships in mid-sea at throwaway prices and sell the fuel to petrol pumps and small-scale industries. With a mountain of ill-gotten money, Shaikh opened many companies dealing in marine products and had offices in Dubai and Singapore.

His name had also surfaced in the 26/11 terror attack case after probe agencies came across a purported conversation of him claiming that he had helped David Headly recce the target sites. But the agencies didn't find anything concrete against him.

Shaikh was arrested in 2010 for allegedly plotting the murder of his rival Sayyed Hussain Madar, alias Chandabhai but he was acquitted in 2015 due to lack of evidence.

For the last few years, he was helping locals of Masjid Bunder area. Shaikh was admitted to Fauzia Hospital in Kurla last week after he tested positive for coronavirus. His condition deteriorated on April 30 and he was shifted to Jaslok. Shaikh, who had diabetes and high BP, died of organ failure.