Luigi: Chapter 1

Disclaimer Note: This story is a fictional representation of North Chennai and Mumbai gangsters. Perhaps, this is one of the stories, that I have never written nor researched. This is one of the most violent stories, I could have written.

2013:

PARLIAMENT OFFICE, NEW DELHI:

Looked by the ministers on the left side and the Indian Army on the right side, Mahendra Pandey says: “I have heard a lot of stories about demons in epic books. But, I have never seen them so ruthless and cruel. No one should read or write about these people. There should be no traces of these people in future. I am enforcing the army and signing the death warrant of the Biggest criminal in India.” Mahendra Pandey signs the death warrant.

2018:

CHENNAI:

Reading this from a book, Journalist Sahana Reddy tells: “Sir. This is ridiculous. Being a senior journalist, how can somebody write so careless? It’s unbelievable.”

Hearing this, the News channel owner Nagendran said: “Government of India has allowed publishing this book. However, our state government have banned and seized this book. They have even burnt the copies of this book and I have received one copy through police sources. Sahana. Call him for an interview.”

 “Sir. I know that he is a senior journalist. But, in this book, I am unable to see a single truth! I have an interview to take in Hyderabad. And I am getting late for the flight!”

“If the government itself, is banning and seizing this book has shown interest means there must be some truth, right?” Upon hearing this, Sahana stops walking. Nagendran turns back to her and said: “I could be the owner of this TV Channel. But, you are the face of it. I am seeing Rajendran for the past 50 years. Before writing a word, he thinks 1000 times. If he has written a book itself means.” Hearing this, Sahana gives a time span of 1 hour to call Rajendran for an interview else to find someone else for the process.

Without letting anyone know about this kind of interview, Nagendran arranges it and makes Rajendran come to the office. Surrounded by a cameraman on the right side, Rajendran sits in the chair, watched by Sahana.

“We don’t go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and put constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers. The book which you have written depicts lots of controversial issues. I fear there could come an earthquake because of this. These problems accuse the bigwig leaders directly.” Rajendran observes her words. While she continued asking: “Based on a true story. What evidence is there for this kind of fantasy? Did you think people will read these things or believe it?”

“Give that book madam…”

As she gives it, Rajendran underlines something and gives it to Sahana. Wearing his reading glass, Rajendran now asked her: “Will our people read now?” As she looked he asked her: “Do you know what’s meant by Luigi?”

“You mean the renowned warrior.”

“Luigi might not be the bravest but he was brave enough to rescue his friends and family no matter what. If he was, even more, braver, he could have conquered the entire world right?”

“Mm possibly. But…” Sahana said.

Knowing what she was going to ask, Rajendran said, “This is not fiction. But, a true story. To prove that, there are two locations in this world.” When asked about the location, he tells it is “Mumbai and North Chennai.”

A while later, Sahana brings the newspapers of 1995 to 2007. Keeping the newspapers on the table, she said: “I have brought the newspapers of 1995 to 2007. None of these has an article about North Chennai and Mumbai. Ok. Let’s leave these newspaper asides. Also, let’s take away this book. Let’s hear it from you. What do you mean gangsters? It’s a business.”

“Maybe it could be business. Behind every successful fortune, there is a crime. Every human being has a bit of gangster in him.”

1990:

NUNGAMBAKKAM:

Every gang members imagine a future that doesn’t include gangs. However, circumstances force them to become gangsters. For every person, A father is a man who expects his children to be as good as he is meant to be. Likewise, Balakrishnan wished to raise up his son Sharan a.k.a. Luigi by teaching him moral values and ethics. However, he was diagnosed with cancer and is left with short time.

He had last words to leave for his son before dying. Despite the blood coming out of his mouth, Balakrishnan said: “The joy in a little boy’s eyes shines in his father’s heart. I’d be lost without you. This world is running behind money da. But, they never realize people can’t die peacefully without paying money. Give me a promise da. I don’t know how you are going to live a life without me. Before you could die, you have to become richer.”

MUMBAI:

1992:

Luigi promised his father to become richer. Following the death of his father, he shifted his place to Mumbai when underworld split blood on Mumbai streets in the period of 1992’s when builders, politicians, film folk were regularly threatened and some even killed. Mumbai was controlled by Ahmed Askar and Pathan Shetty. There was big competition between these two for power and fame over the city. Everybody is a gangster until a gangster walks in the room. Among these two, 15-year old Luigi too joined.

FEBRUARY 1981:

In February 1981, Saabir Ibrahim Kaskar was killed at a petrol pump opposite Siddhivinayak Temple. He was shot five times, point-blank, by Pathan Shetty’s men. His bullet-riddled body marked the beginning of approximately two decades of violent gang warfare on the streets of Mumbai- because Saabir’s brother was Ahmed Askar and Askar wasn’t going to let his brother’s killers go gently into the right.

A gangland killing is murder carried out by organized criminals and Mumbai was witness to a spate of them, particularly in the 1990’s. Gangsters had been lurking in the city’s shadows since the 1940’s, when Karim Lala, Haji Mastan, Varadharajan Mudaliar rose to prominence by smuggling goods and running together gambling dens. The respectful distance that the gangs maintained from one, started curdling into animosity in the 1970’s. Once Askar’s ambition came into play, the competition became violent. Askar fled the country in 1986, but through his associates, who were part of his “A- Company”, the gangster held the city in it’s grip and was waiting for a right point of time to seek revenge against Pathan Shetty.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the nexus between the rich, the powerful and the underworld was intricate and bloodthirsty. Law and order were broken by corruption and fear. Askar’s response to his brother’s murder was to issue contracts to kill all members of the Pathan gang, originally started by Karim Lala.

PRESENT:

Now, Sahana Reddy asked Rajendran: “Sir. On one side, the underworld was intricate and bloodthirsty. On the other side, Askar is waiting for the right time to avenge the death of his brother. But, how do they meet the gangsters of North Chennai in between these problems?”

“Because every man is a mob, a chain gang of idiots.”

1995:

DHARAVI:

Luigi had a best friend Santhosh Singh. Luigi used to look after the smuggling business. While, Santhosh Singh worked as a sniper for Pathan. They both were two eyes for Shetty. Because they worked day and night to protect and safeguard him from the gangs of Askar.

Gold smuggling in Kerala between the 1970s and 1990’s was not through safe routes. From Haji Mastan to Askar, some of the big names of the underworld carried out gold smuggling through Kerala during that period. After Askar went away, Pathan took control over Mumbai. The smugglers in Kerala began their operations as the landing agents who used to carry the gold arriving on the Kerala coast to Mumbai.

Luigi brought gold biscuits from Dubai through ships and Urus off Kerala coast. The responsibility of the landing agent was to load the gold consignment in fishing boats, bring it to the shore and then take it to Mumbai in vehicles by road. There were no one to oppose Luigi, Santhosh Singh and Pathan were unopposed in Mumbai.

DECEMBER 1995:

DHARAVI:

A few years later, Luigi visits Dharavi to meet his godfather and mentor Mansoor, who provided shelter for him and Santhosh Singh. As he went inside his shop, Mansoor felt elated and made him sit in a chair.

“How is your work going da?”

“Not satisfied Bhai. Still more, Pathan is ruling our Mumbai. We have to change this.” Mansoor says to him, “Luigi. Good things come to those who wait…greater things come to those who get off their ass and do anything to make it happen.”

When speaking to Bhai, Pathan calls Luigi and tells him to meet Radhakrishnan Deshmukh, a local drug smuggler in Daravi. Radhakrishnan controls the parts of South Mumbai and Western Mumbai through his drug smuggling business. Taking control over Jawaharlal Nehru port and other seashores, they smuggle heroin, cocaine and few more costly drugs. They sell it to the school children and college children. I got a right time to move my Luigi to the next level. That’s Daravi.

“Stop somewhere near to the bar da.” Luigi said to his driver, who said: “Sir. Now, no one could be there in the bar sir.” When speaking someone comes in and asks for help to save him from Radhakrishnan’s daughter, who is creating party and ruckus in the roads of Daravi.

Luigi is smitten by Radhakrishnan’s daughter Anjali Deshmukh and proposes his love to her, which angered her. However, Luigi beats her men to pulp and asks them to take care of her. She is left angry with this. For a few days, he roams with her and sooner realizes his good nature, apart from his arrogant and emotionless attitude. She falls for him.

However, things took a turn when Luigi’s name spread to the whole Mumbai and the South India. There came a big feud and dispute between him and Pathan, prompting the latter to kill him. But, Pathan’s boss from North Chennai named Ramakrishnan comes and assigns Luigi for killing Selvam, a notorious gangster of North Chennai promising him to give the whole Mumbai.

Chennai has been a witness to a number of police encounters, with 28 persons, primarily notorious gangsters, five bank robbers and two extremists, gunned down. But, the flamboyant gangsters of the city has a history of notoriety have often bounced back with gang wars.

The city’s four police zones have all had their share of criminals who made big bucks through real estate deals and fought foes for territorial supremacy. But it is the northern parts of the city which have been particularly synonymous with savagery. North Chennai is controlled by Selvam. He started off by selling tea and running a welding shop in Choolaimedu. However, he aspired for more and crime was his chosen path. Beginning with petty offences, he graduated to committing murders along with his friend “Sketch” Yogi, Sekhar and Kuttivalavan, holding kangaroo courts mainly in his locality, Arumbakkam, MMDA Colony and Anna Nagar.

Meanwhile, Luigi met Ramakrishnan in his house and asked him about Selvam. Ramakrishnan opens up about Selvam to him:

He was the trusted aide of Selvam, once. But, due to his thirst for power, left him and joined the gang of Nagendran, who is the present boss of bosses. Since then, there has been rivalry between the two of them and their gangs.” As Selvam didn’t take any action and denied cash, his gang members including Sketch Yogi and Sekhar left him and joined his gang. This angered him and the aides he still retained. They were waiting to regain the power they had lost.

As a first step, Selvam organized a birthday party, advised by his friends Kanagu and Vicky. At the event, they were planning to kill C.D.Mani, “Kakathoppu” Balaji, Ramakrishnan himself and even Nagendran. Threatened, they have henceforth hired Luigi to assassinate Selvam at once and for all.

PRESENT:

At present, Sahana asked Rajendran: “Sir. On one side, birthday events had been held for Selvam. On the other side, Luigi is learning about the life of Selvam. Something is mysterious here!”

Rajendran said: “I told you already right. Behind every successful fortune, there’s a crime. Here too the same!”

1996 TO 1998:

EXTORTION AND REVENGE:

The enmity among their gangsters is mainly over sharing of extortion money, revenge murders or gaining power over the other’s territory. The enmity between him and Selvam is over money. The fight between C.D.Mani and Ramakrishnan and even Selvam is over power. Mani has a hold on the real estate business in the city. He threatens and extorts money from businessmen. He travels in high-end cars like the Jaguar.

The hostility between Ramakrishnan and T.P.Chatram Dakshinamurthy is over revenge murders. Kakathoppu Balaji has a running battle with Nagendran from Vyasarpadi. Balaji wants to take Nagendran’s place. He controls everything from prison. He is a role model for aspiring rowdy elements.

Decades ago, names such as “Boxer” Vadivelu, Ayodhya Kuppam Veeramani, Asai Thambi, “Vellai” Ravi, “Bokkai” Ravi and “Punk” Kumar were much talked about. North Chennai became synonymous with rowdyism as many of these gangsters used to live there. After these rowdies were either shot dead by the police or died a natural death, a new breed, that grew up seeing them, came to the fore in the city. Some of the notorious rowdies now are Nagendran, C.D.Mani, Selvam, Mylapore Sivakumar, “Kadhukuthu” Ravi, Kanagu, “Kalvettu” Ravi, Kakathoppu Balaji, Adaikalaraj, “Seizing” Raja, Tambaram Surya and “Dog” Ravi. Under the newfound support and guidance of Ramakrishnan and his men, Luigi brutally murdered Nagendran, C.D.Mani, Mylapore Sivakumar, Kadhukuthu Ravi, Kanagu, Adaikalaraj, Seizing Raja, Kakathoppu Balaji, Tambaram Surya, Dog Ravi and Kalvettu Ravi one by one between the periods of 1996 to 1998.     

This feared Selvam, who was on the continuous run from North Chennai to West Chennai. Since, Luigi gets the support of Radhakrishnan Deshmukh, Santhosh Singh and his love interest Anjali Deshmukh in the mission to eliminate these gangsters.

As a retribution for losing power and fame in North Chennai, Selvam joins hands with Askar’s former men Rajan in Coastal Mumbai. Supported by their men, Selvam and his associates assassinated Askar’s men.

After the 1993 blasts, Rajan and Askar fell out and he joined his rival Shetty’s gang. Until then, he was his right-hand man. They indulged in smuggling, extortion and drug trafficking. Selvam brutally murdered him in the outskirts of Mumbai.

Fearing for Mansoor’s safety, Santhosh Singh brings him safer through sea shores of Mumbai. On November 13, 1996 Thakiyudeen Wahid Muhammad, managing director of East West Airlines was about to go home after a regular day at work. Five men of Selvam- one of whom was Rajan’s trusted lieutenant Makarand Pandey broke the windshield of Wahid’s car and emptied 30 bullets into his body. This was retaliation for Kukreja’s murder and because Rajan believed Askar had invested money in East West Airlines.

Makarand fled to Vietnam after being charged for Wahid’s murder. As a retribution for Wahid’s death, Askar’s associates from Pakistan killed Samant on January 16, 1997 when he was on his way to Pant Nagar Office. Four men fired indiscriminately at Samant’s jeep, killing him and injuring his driver.

On August 12, 1997 another businessman Gulshan Kumar was killed by Askar’s men Adil Mohammed, when he was alone. Since he have refused to pay 10 crore to the company they fired him to death. The assassins were hired killers. Between 1997 and 1998, the underworld had unleashed wave of attacks on builders and real estate developers in Mumbai. Nearly 16 attacks had been carried out in this period. Luigi decides to murder Selvam and his associates at once and for all.

Pathan also joined hands with Luigi and his men. Since, Askar’s men are slowly bringing Mumbai under control alongside Rajan and Selvam. Along with their men, Santhosh Singh and Luigi brutally shot Rajan to his death on May 1999, when he was out to Temple in Pune. Then, Selvam’s men were targeted and shot to death. Threatened, Selvam once again tried to run. But, was found out by Luigi and Santhosh Singh.

Selvam decides to fight them and says: “Hey, you retch***. I have learned more in the streets than in any classroom. Come da. Let’s see who is powerful and notorious!”

He beats up Luigi and Santhosh to a pulp, watched by a tearful Anjali Deshmukh. However, when he said to take Anjali as his concubine, Luigi angrily gets up and overpowers Selvam. Santhosh Singh takes his gun and shoots Selvam multiple times. Having killed Selvam after a long chase, Ramakrishnan appreciates them and has a surprise for Pathan Shetty, Luigi and Santhosh in store.

PRESENT:

“Surprise ah? What Surprise sir?” asked Sahana.

1990:

“Balakrishna…Hey Balakrishna. See what your son has done! He is spoiling our son too, having spoilt himself.”

“Dad. I was beaten by those guys. That’s why I went with my friends to beat him up.”

“Did you go with your friends ah da? Go alone da. Be careful who call you call your friends. When you wage a war, you should be an example to other people and act as a guider to them.”

NOVEMBER 1998:

“Everybody’s a gangster until a gangster walks in the room.” Likewise, after Ramakrishnan walked into the life of Luigi, his life completely took a turn. He was introduced to the gangsters of North Chennai. But, Ramakrishnan had other plans and intentions in his mind. He planned to murder Pathan Shetty, Santhosh Singh and Luigi, after getting Selvam killed. Since, he wanted to rule Mumbai as a part of his crime syndicate, having been impressed with it.

Now, Ramakrishnan’s men hold Santhosh Singh, Luigi, Radhakrishnan Deshmukh and Pathan Singh at gunpoint to kill them. However, Luigi laughed and said: “Sir. The classy gangster is a Hollywood invention, you know?”

Rajendran however laughed and said: “I am an undisputed gangster now. To me, that means playing by my own rules.” 

“For me to sir. Playing by my own rules: Shoot first, ask questions last. That’s how these so-called gangsta’s last.” Ramakrishnan’s men are shot to death by Luigi’s men and a few of his own henchmen. Ramakrishnan is held at gunpoint by his own men. He sits fearfully.

The only difference between the Government and the mafia is that Mafia actually turns a profit. Luigi came to know that a large number of criminals from Tamil Nadu are going to Mumbai. War is a thug’s game. Here the thug is Luigi. He strikes first and harder. He doesn’t go by rules and he isn’t afraid of hurting people. Through some sources, he learned about the involvement of Ramakrishnan in this. He and Santhosh Singh discussed with Radhakrishnan Deshmukh and Pathan Singh to kill Ramakrishnan once murdering Selvam.

Looking at Ramakrishnan, Luigi said: “If somebody messes with me, I will mess with them. Let me tell you something. There’s no nobility in poverty. I have been a poor man, and I have been a rich man. And I choose rich every f*cking time. Listen to me very carefully. There are three ways of doing things around here: the right way, the wrong way and the way that I do it. You understand?” As he looked at him, Luigi slits his throat and leaves the old man for his death.

As Santhosh Singh and Mansoor looked at him, Luigi says: “Santhosh. There are only murderers in this room! Open your eyes! This is the life we chose, the life we lead. And there is only one guarantee: none of us will see heaven.”

PRESENT:

“With some newfound support, Luigi decides to rule North Chennai and Mumbai. When you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that. Everybody is a gangster until a gangster walks into the room. Gangster is the man of the city, with the city’s language and knowledge, with its queer and dishonest skills and its terrible daring, carrying his life in his hands like a placard, like a club. This is still Chapter 1. The story...”

PARLIAMENT HOUSE, NEW DELHI:

2013:

“I am enforcing the army and signing the death warrant of the Biggest criminal in India.”

PRESENT:

“Now, it’s just the beginning…” Rajendran said to Sahana Reddy.

Sahana Reddy asked Rajendran: “Sir. How did you collect this information during that period?”

He smiled and said: “Wait for some time mam. I will definitely answer your questions in Chapter 2.”