Faheem Khan, the Real-Life Inspiration for ‘Gangs of Wasseypur,’ Freed

Jharkhand High Court Orders Release of 75-Year-Old Dhanbad Gangster After 22 Years

Key Points:

• Faheem Khan, inspiration behind Faizal Khan, released after 22 years
• High Court cites old age, illness in granting remission
• Convicted in Sagir Hasan murder; faced over 36 serious charges

DHANBAD – In a dramatic turn of events, the real-life inspiration for Anurag Kashyap’s iconic film “Gangs of Wasseypur” is set to walk free after 22 years. Jharkhand High Court has ordered the release of Faheem Khan, the Dhanbad gangster whose life inspired the character “Faizal Khan.”

Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary passed the order directing the state to release Faheem Khan within six weeks. He has been serving a life sentence in Ghaghidih Jail, Jamshedpur, for the 1989 murder of Sagir Hasan Siddiqui.

Faheem Khan’s counsel filed a criminal writ petition seeking remission, citing his deteriorating health and advanced age of over 75 years. The petition argued that Khan had spent over two decades behind bars and suffered from heart and kidney ailments. The High Court accepted the argument, overruling the state’s review board that had deemed him a “public threat.”

However, the decision has reignited debate in Dhanbad’s Wasseypur locality. Locals celebrated with sweets, marking the end of what they called “a long wait for Faheem’s return.” The infamous line from the movie — “Baap ka, Dada ka, Bhai ka, Sabka Badla Lega Re Tera Faizal” — echoed again in the alleys of Wasseypur.

Faheem Khan, regarded as one of Dhanbad’s most feared gangsters, faced over three dozen criminal charges. His first recorded crime was the murder of Sagir Hasan in 1989, followed by the killings of railway contractor Irfan Khan and Dhirendra Pratap Singh, as well as multiple extortion and attempted murder cases.

He had been convicted in several of these cases, including the 2011 Wasseypur murder trial that led to his life sentence. Police records describe his gang as one of the most violent in Jharkhand’s coal belt.

Meanwhile, authorities are expected to review security arrangements in Dhanbad and nearby areas following his release. The Wasseypur neighborhood, once a hotspot for gang rivalries, now braces for renewed attention from both residents and the media.

For context, similar developments in the past in the region have included calls for Prince Khan’s extradition, state government pressure on the Centre, and heightened security after Aman Singh’s murder and subsequent security measures in Jharkhand jails.