The Book ‘My Days in the rise of the Bengaluru Mafia’ is written by Agni Sreedhar,who once was the key don of Bengaluru’s under world.
In India, many businessmen are subject to extortion, threats etc from various politicians, criminals and other rent seekers.As such, it would be good to know how the criminal underworld works.
The Book captures the underworld activities of Bengaluru from 1970s to 2000s
Its a very gripping read and gives a fantastic insight into how our society (politics,criminals,police and judiciary) actually work
The author had spent many years amongst criminals (‘rowdies’ in Karnataka parlance) and had even committed many crimes, including murders.
One thing that strikes me is how easy it is commit a murder and get away with it in our country. One example in the Book gave an instance where a murder was committed and the police were lead to a site where the murdered person’s bones lay.The entire case was built around it.The case collapsed after a few months when it was pointed out the bones were not human’s but a dog’s ! The murderers had buried dog’s bones there and had disposed the body in the sea !
The Book also narrates the various petty crimes that the Bangalore mafia used to indulge in like extorting from gays,fake currency rackets etc
The Bengaluru Mafia became bigger and deadlier after the Mumbai Mafia got involved with their guns, sharp shooters etc.
The author offers this remarkable piece about the criminal-politician-police nexus:
“It is the politicians who play a very important role in the underworld.A winning legislator, if he belongs to the ruling party, will get a police officer of his choice appointed to his constituency.Hence, the local small-time rowdies support politicians”
And
“The politicians pamper the underworld because they are of use during elections.The police play up to politicians because they can be used for transfers.The underworld controls the police through politicians and the politicians control the underworld through the police !”
The Book is littered with instances of how the Bengaluru Mafia was supported by various Congress politicians and Chief Ministers. Reminded me of how Dawood Ibrahim was continuously supported by a Maharashtra CM in his rise to power.
I am reminded of a famous anecdote of Dhirubhai Ambani.
Rupert Murdoch, the Media Billionaire, was just entering India and he met Dhirubhai Ambani in Mumbai.
Ambani asked Murdoch whom he had met in the capital, and Murdoch listed the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister, and others. “Ah, you’ve met all the right people,” replied Ambani. “But if you want to get anywhere in India you must meet all the wrong people”
Do buy this book if interested in knowing more about the wrong people.
