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Dawood Ibrahim’s Ancestral Plots in Ratnagiri Finally Sold After Years of Failed Auctions
Mumbai, March 20, 2026: In a significant development, four ancestral agricultural land parcels linked to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim have finally found buyers after multiple failed auction attempts over the past decade.
The properties, located in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, were auctioned on March 5, 2026, by the central government under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act. These land parcels were part of the Kaskar family’s ancestral holdings and had been forfeited due to their links with criminal activities.
According to officials, a Mumbai-based bidder emerged as the highest bidder for all four agricultural plots situated in Mumbake village of Khed taluka, Dawood’s native place. The bidder’s identity has not been disclosed yet.
The successful bidder is required to complete the payment by April 2026, after which the transaction will be subject to final approval by the competent authority.
The auction marks a breakthrough after repeated unsuccessful attempts in 2017, 2020, 2024, and 2025. Earlier auctions either saw no bidders or failed due to non-payment.
One of the prime plots (Survey No. 442), with a reserve price of ₹9.41 lakh, was sold for over ₹10 lakh, indicating renewed interest among buyers. The remaining plots—Survey Nos. 533, 453, and 617—had reserve prices ranging from as low as ₹15,440 to over ₹8 lakh, but attracted limited competition.
Officials said several of these properties were originally registered in the name of Dawood’s mother, Amina Bi. Despite having clear government-backed titles, the properties struggled to attract buyers for years due to social stigma and their association with the underworld.
These assets were attached in the 1990s following investigations into organised crime networks linked to Dawood Ibrahim, a key आरोपी in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.
Under SAFEMA provisions, authorities are empowered to seize and dispose of properties acquired through illegal means, particularly those linked to smuggling and terror financing.
Delhi-based lawyer Ajay Srivastava had previously drawn attention by bidding on multiple Dawood-linked properties, including an ancestral bungalow in 2020. However, some of his later bids were cancelled due to non-payment, contributing to delays in the disposal process.
Officials view the successful auction as a key milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to liquidate properties linked to criminal syndicates and bring such assets into lawful use.
After years of uncertainty, the Ratnagiri land sale signals renewed momentum in enforcing anti-illicit wealth laws and closing long-pending cases tied to one of India’s most wanted fugitives.
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