Several media reports state that the family of Karim Lala has agreed to Raut's claim and said that Indira Gandhi had good relations with the don. His family also claims that Karim Lala had good relations with several other politicians including Bal Thackeray, Rajiv Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and others.
While speaking to news agency ANI, Sundar Shekhar, adopted son of don Haji Mastan verified Raut's claim of Indira Gandhi's relation with Karim Lala. "Sanjay Raut is right. Indira Gandhi used to meet him (Karim Lala). Many other leaders also used to visit. Haji Mastan was a businessman. Balasaheb Thackeray too was a good friend of Haji Mastan."
Picture Of Shiv Sena Founder Bal Thackeray Sitting With Underworld Don Karim Lala
Haji Mastan Mirza had died from a cardiac arrest at the Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital in 1994. He was 68. Mastan had quit the underworld in his later years and lived as a businessman and philanthropist. Haji Mastan and Karim Lala were the three top underworld dons of Mumbai from the sixties to the early eighties.
Raut on Wednesday claimed that Indira Gandhi had met underworld don of the sixties-eighties, Karim Lala. Shiv Sena leader, however, took back his statement saying that it was twisted. Congress has downplayed the comments Raut on Indira Gandhi, but has communicated the party's displeasure to its ruling Maharashtra alliance partner.
The BJP has seized the opportunity to attack the Congress with former CM and Maharashtra leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demanding to know if the underworld mafia was financing the Congress, and sought a clarification.
Even Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackery's son Aditya Thackeray said that Sena founder Bal Thackeray had immense respect for Indira Gandhi and claimed Raut's controversial statements on the former prime minister were taken out of context.