Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has stirred a controversy by saying that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used to have meetings with old-time Underworld don Karim Lala. "There was a time when Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel, and Sharad Shetty used to decide who would be the Police Commissioner of Mumbai and who would sit in the state secretariat. Indira Gandhi used to go and meet Karim Lala," Raut said.

Since the Shiv Sena and the Congress party are in alliance in Maharashtra, the latter became uneasy after his comments.

Maharasthra Minister Balasaheb Thorat wrote, "Indira ji was a dynamic national leader. In 1975, she broke the backbone of the crime world in Mumbai, dismantled the smuggling racket as well and put all criminals like Karim Lala, Haji Mastan Yusuf Patel behind the bars to maintain law and order situation." Former Union Minister and senior Congressman Milind Deora said, "Indira ji was a true patriot who never compromised on India’s national security. I demand that Sanjay Raut ji withdraws his ill-informed statement. Political leaders must show restraint before distorting the legacies of deceased Prime Ministers."

Following the row, Sanjay Raut withdrew his statement.