Chhota Rajan Brought to Delhi, in CBI Custody

New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) Long-absconding underworld don Rajendra Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan was brought to the national capital from Indonesia on Friday, officials said.

Rajan, who was arrested by Indonesian police on October 25, arrived in a special aircraft around 5.30 a.m. at Indira Gandhi International Airport here from where he was taken to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters, escorted by special commandos and a SWAT team, police said.

The aircraft carrying Rajan, along with a team of CBI offices and others, departed for India around 8 p.m. (local time) from Indonesia's Bali on Thursday.

Rajan, 55, reached CBI headquarters around 6 a.m. All routes leading the the CBI headquarters have been sealed by Delhi Police.

Besides, the security of CBI headquarters, which is looked after by the Central Industrial Security Force, has been increased.

Rajan, who has been absconding from India for two decades was arrested in Indonesian on a request of CBI in Bali, following a tip-off by the Australian Federal Police.

Rajan was kept in a lockup in CBI headquarters and his medical examination was conducted later.

The mafia don will be presented before a special CBI magistrate through video conferencing, who will officially hand over his custody to the investigating agency, sources said.

"Rajendra Szadashiv Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan alias Mohan Kumar has been successfully brought back to India on deportation from Indonesia today (Friday) morning. He is in custody of CBI-Interpol. Legal formalities are in process," the CBI said in a statement.

Hours after his arrival in the city in an Indian Air Force Gulfstream-III aircraft from Bali, the security of Rajan, considered as a "friendly don" because of his earlier tip-offs to Indian security agencies about the movement of Dawood and his aides, has been increased.

In 2000, there was an attempt on Rajan's life when Dawood's men tracked him to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed a dramatic escape by jumping from the first floor of the hotel.

Once close aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, Rajan separated from his gang before the 1993 Mumbai blasts were conspired.

Earlier, Rajan's deportation was delayed due to unfavourable weather conditions across Bali caused due to volcanic eruption at a nearby island which led the international airport in Bali to be shut down.

After authorities declared the airport open, the Indian team comprising CBI, Delhi and Mumbai Police officials began the process of deportation Rajan, who had fled India in 1988 for Dubai.

Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary K.P. Bakshi on Thursday announced it had handed over all its cases against Rajan to the CBI, hours before the fugitive was deported by Indonesian authorities.

After the Maharashtra government declared transferring all its cases against Rajan to the CBI, Delhi Police also handed over its cases to the premier agency for further probe.

Rajan is wanted in over 80 crimes ranging from murder, extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking.

Mumbai Police have nearly 70-75 cases registered against Rajan, including 20 of murder, four cases under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, one under Prevention of Terrorism Act and over 20 cases under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

Delhi Police have six cases registered against Rajan.