Mumbai in the seventies and eighties was a city of sharp contrasts: glamour and gang wars, chaos and control. At the heart of it all was Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retd) Madhukar B. Zende, a sharp-minded officer with a knack for catching the city's most elusive criminals.

Best known for arresting the infamous serial killer Charles Sobhraj, aka the Serpent, Zende's career spanned decades of high-stakes policing. His new book, Mumbai's Most Wanted, is a rich and gritty chronicle of life on the force.

From the mysterious murder of Shanta Devi to the capture of criminal kingpins like Arun Gawli, Karim Lala, Haji Mastan and Babu Reshim, his stories unfold like scenes from a noir thriller (except every word is true). There are riots, manhunts, and moments of doubt as well as unexpected grace.

This conversation is a rare look into a city in flux and a man who walked its fault lines, chasing justice in a time of smoke-filled bars, typewriters, and quick decisions.

In this episode of BIC Talks, Madhukar Zende will be in conversation with Raghu Karnad. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in Jul 2025.

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