Mumbai Crime Branch Seeks Custody Of Dawood Aide Salim Dola As NCB Remand Ends On May 8

Mumbai: Major developments are unfolding in Mumbai regarding Salim Dola, an alleged close aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. The Mumbai Crime Branch has moved a special NDPS court seeking custody of Dola for further interrogation.

According to officials, if the court grants permission, the Crime Branch will take custody of Dola from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to question him in connection with multiple cases. Investigating agencies believe that Dola could reveal crucial information related to underworld-linked drug networks.

NCB Custody Till May 8 : Sources said that Salim Dola is currently in NCB custody till May 8, where he is being interrogated in connection with drug-related offences. The Crime Branch has filed an application seeking a production warrant, which would allow them to take custody of the accused once the NCB remand period ends.

As per legal procedure, the Crime Branch must justify the need for custody before the court. If the court is satisfied that further interrogation is required in other cases, it may issue a production warrant, enabling the agency to take the accused into its custody.

Officials indicated that the Crime Branch plans to seek Dola’s custody in a phased manner in connection with multiple cases, including the Sangli drugs case, the Mysuru drugs case, and the Telangana drugs case.

According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, Dola is believed to be a key figure in several major drug networks. Investigations have revealed his suspected involvement in drug factory cases uncovered in Sangli, Mysuru, and Telangana. Additionally, his name had surfaced in a 2024 case involving the seizure of 4 kilograms of MD drugs. Authorities believe that his interrogation could lead to significant breakthroughs in dismantling large-scale drug syndicates. The final decision now rests with the NDPS court. Dola will be handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch only after the court grants approval and his current NCB custody concludes.

As many as five cases have been registered against notorious drug mafia Salim Dola with the Mumbai Police, even as multiple agencies have unearthed a wider narcotics network linked to him. Earlier, the Sakinaka Police busted a drug manufacturing unit in Mysuru, while the Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 7 carried out a major action in Sangli, in which Dola has been named as an accused.

The Crime Branch investigation in the case began with the arrest of alleged drug peddler Parveen Bano Ghulam Shaikh from Kurla in February 2024, from whom 641 grams of mephedrone (MD) was seized. During interrogation, she revealed that she sourced the contraband from Sajid Mohammad Asif Shaikh, a 25-year-old resident of Mira Road. Shaikh, in turn, told investigators that he had been appointed by Dola, along with his son Taher and nephew Mustafa Kubbawala, to manage distribution of the party drug.

Following the trail, investigators traced the manufacturing facility to Sangli district and conducted a raid in March 2024. The operation led to the seizure of 122 kg of high-quality MD, along with cash and gold collectively valued at ₹253 crore. Six persons were arrested during the raid, including Pravin Shinde, who allegedly ran operations at the unit after learning drug manufacturing techniques in Varanasi during the pandemic.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade had stated that the probe revealed Dola as the main financier behind the racket, providing funds to set up MD factories, ensuring supply of raw materials, and overseeing transportation of finished drugs to distribution points.

In a further crackdown in mid-2025, the Crime Branch arrested Dola’s son Taher Dola (33) and nephew Mustafa Kubbawala (44) after they were extradited from Dubai. Kubbawala allegedly handled procurement of raw materials from different parts of Gujarat and coordinated transportation of the contraband to distribution hubs in Mira Road. The investigation has highlighted the scale and structure of the drug syndicate, with Dola playing a central role in financing and operations across multiple locations.

To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/