09 January,2026 03:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Abdul Rauf and Gulshan Kumar
Abdul Rauf alias Dawood Merchant, a henchman of underworld don Abu Salem who shot T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar, has died in Harsool Central Jail on Thursday. Abdul was serving a life sentence at the prison located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in connection with Kumar's murder.
Abdul Rauf reportedly died of a heart attack in prison. He was 60-years-old at the time of his death. Notably, Rauf's health had been deteriorating over the past few days.
On December 30, 2025, Rauf suffered a mild heart attack, following which he was admitted to the Government Valley Hospital in the city. Consequently, on January 4, 2026, after noticing considerable improvement in his health, he was shifted back to jail.
However, according to reports, he suffered another severe heart attack and died on Thursday morning. A case of accidental death has been registered.
Gulshan Kumar was shot dead outside the Jeeteshwar Mahadev Temple in Andheri, on the morning of August 12, 1997. As per his daily routine, Gulshan had visited the temple to offer prayers. As he got out of his car at the temple, the attackers opened fire on him at close range. Rauf reportedly fired 16 bullets at Gulshan Kumar from close range. This led to Kumar's death on the spot.
Kumar's murder was considered more than just a business dispute. It is believed to be part of an underworld plan to create fear and exert control. Notably, during the 1990s, Mumbai's underworld had a strong influence in the city, including the film and music industry.
The T-Series boss was reportedly asked to pay a ransom, which he refused to pay. Rauf was sentenced to life imprisonment in case of Gulshan Kumar's murder in 2002. Subsequently, in 2003, he was sent to the Harsool Jail in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
Later, Rauf was released on parole in 2009. As soon as he got out of jail, Rauf had reportedly fled. After being on the run for about eight years, evading the police, he was finally arrested by the police again in 2016-2017 and sent back to Harsool Jail.
