Mamta Kulkarni’s Dawood Ibrahim remark, ‘not some terrorist, never carried out any bomb blasts’ claim sparks outrage; issues clarification

Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, best known for her roles in Karan Arjun and China Gate, has found herself at the center of a major controversy. During a recent public event in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, the actress made remarks on Dawood Ibrahim, and claimed “he is not some terrorist” and asserting that he “never carried out any bomb blast or anti-national act in the country.”

Her statements went viral, drawing sharp criticism online and in the media. Within hours, Kulkarni released a clarification claiming her comments were misunderstood.

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Mamta Kulkarni’s Controversial Statement

During the Gorakhpur event, Mamta Kulkarni said, “Dawood Ibrahim se durr durr se koi lena dena nahi hain. Kisi ek ka naam zaroor tha [probably referring to Vicky Goswami], lekin agar aap dekhoge toh usne koi bomb blast ya anti-national cheez nahi ki thi desh ke andar. Main uske saath toh nahi hoon, lekin he is not some terrorist. Aapko uska difference bhi samajhna chahiye.”

She went on to add, “Aap jab Dawood ka naam lete ho... jiske saath mera naam juda hain, usne kabhi bomb blast nahi kiya kabhi Bombay ke andar. Kabhi suna aapne? Jiska naam aap le rahe ho, Dawood ka naam kabhi tha hi nahi. Dawood ko main kabhi jeevan mein nahi mili hoon.”

Her statements, perceived by many as defending or downplaying Dawood Ibrahim’s criminal record, instantly went viral, leading to intense social media backlash.

The Viral Fallout

Following the circulation of her video, critics on social media accused Kulkarni of “whitewashing” a figure who remains one of India’s most wanted fugitives. Commentators noted the sensitivity of invoking Dawood Ibrahim, who has been linked to organized crime and the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Others argued her words were being taken out of context.

Mamta Kulkarni’s Clarification

Amid the uproar, on October 30, Mamta Kulkarni posted a clarification video on Instagram, writing: “MERA DAWOOD SE KOI LENA DENA NAHI” – MAHA MANDLESHWAR YAMAII MAMTA NAND GIRI (sic)

In her clarification, she urged people to “listen carefully” to her words, insisting her statement had been misinterpreted. Kulkarni reiterated that she had no connection with Dawood Ibrahim, explaining that she only referred to Vicky Goswami, with whom her name had been previously linked. She emphasized that Goswami “was never involved in any anti-national activities.”

The Vicky Goswami Connection

Mamta Kulkarni’s association with Vicky Goswami, an alleged drug trafficker linked to the D-Company network in South Africa, has long been a topic of media speculation. For years, rumours suggested the two were married - a claim Goswami himself refuted in an interview with India Today TV, stating, “Mamta Kulkarni is only a well-wisher. She stood by me in difficult times, but she is not my wife. I never married her.”

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Life After Bollywood

After stepping away from films in 2003, Mamta Kulkarni renounced showbiz and turned toward spirituality. Now known as Maha Mandleshwar Yamaii Mamta Nand Giri, she lives a reclusive life, occasionally appearing in public at religious or spiritual gatherings.