Chhota Rajan who was arrested in Bali will be deported to India by Indonesia. Maharashtra has asked Centre to send him to Mumbai
Underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan (55) was on Monday arrested by the Indonesian Police after they received a tip-off from the Australian Federal Police. Rajan, a former India's most wanted Dawood Ibrahim led D-Company member is wanted for over 22 serious cases in Mumbai including murder and extortion with one of the murder caswe being of senior crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey.
Acting on a tip-off from Australian police, Indonesian authorities detained Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, alias 'Chhota Rajan' on Sunday as he arrived in the popular resort island of Bali from Sydney.
The 55-year-old Nikalje, an alleged crime boss in India, had been on the run for two decades, Wiyanto said, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995.
"We received information from police in Canberra yesterday (Sunday) about the red notice for a murderer," he said.
"We arrested the man at the airport. What we know is that this man was suspected to have carried out 15 to 20 murders in India."
Bali police were coordinating with Interpol and Indian authorities, Wiyanto said, adding it was likely Nikalje would be deported to India.
A spokesperson for Australian Federal Police said Interpol in Canberra had alerted Indonesian authorities "who apprehended Nikalje at the request of Indian authorities".
The CBI in its official statement said, “At the request of CBI (Interpol) India, the Bali police has arrested an Indian national, Mohan Kumar on October 25. Mohan Kumar alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan is a fugitive and CBI has been pursuing the matter with Australian authorities. This is a good and close cooperation between India, Australia and Indonesia. We thank Indonesia and Australia for their prompt action at our request. Further action will be taken as required under the law.”
The Indonesian authorities detained Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, alias Chhota Rajan on Sunday as he arrived in the popular resort island of Bali from Sydney. The Interpol had flagged Rajan as a wanted man back in 1995. The Indonesian police received information from police in Canberra on Sunday about the red notice after which Rajan was detained following his arrest.
Sources said, “ The Bali police of Indonesia were in constant coordination with the Interpol and Indian authorities, Rajan was found in possession of a Passport with its number being G9273860 and had departed Sydney, Australia at 10am on Sunday via the Garuda Indonesia flight GA715 to Bali. He was supposed to stay in Bali for 15 days.
“In our records Chhota Rajan is wanted in as many as 22 cases with the latest being the J Dey murder case. His deportation will help solve many cases,” said a senior official from the Mumbai police.
“The Maharashtra government will request the center for allowing Chota Rajan to be taken to Mumbai after he is deported to India, said Minister of State (Home), Ram Shinde.
– With inputs from PTI/AFP
Cases on Rajan in the Police records
In Mumbai Crime Branch records, Chhota Rajan is wanted in several cases, a senior official said, “As per records, Chhota Rajan is wanted for more than 68 offenses that includes 28 extortion cases, over a dozen murders and attempt to murder cases whereas 12 MCOCA and over a dozen cases arms act are pending against him.”
Chhota Shakeel’s attempt to eliminate Rajan alarmed the agency
Wanted for over two decade,s it was not easy to trace the Chhota Rajan after his escape from Bangkok in 2000. The Intelligence agencies, in July this year had received inputs that Dawood Ibrahim’s close aide Chhota Shakeel had himself traveled to Australia to eliminate Chhota Rajan, Shakeel had 're-invited' Rajan for a face-off and claimed that his men were still there in Australia. The D-Company was adamant on taking Rajan down for a victory for the Company.
Since April 2015, Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel had been giving shape to their plan to gun down Chhota Rajan. They had even pin-pointed his location in Australia.
In 2000, there was an attempt on his life when Dawood’s men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed to escape through the hotel’s roof. Chotta Rajan started his life of crime in the central suburb of Chembur and joined with Dawood Ibrahim but broke away from the then Dubai- based don following his distaste for the serial bomb blasts of March 12, 1993. The blasts were engineered by Dawood Ibrahim as a revenge for the 1992-93 riots and by all accounts, it was to settle scores with those who assaulted the Muslim minority community. Since their break-up, Rajan was being stalked by Ibrahim's gangs.
However it came to light that Rajan had been living in Australia under the identity of Mohan Kumar.