Rajan to return to India today

Chota Rajan

New Delhi: Underworld don Chhota Rajan is expected to return to India this morning, 27 years after he had fled the country in the face of numerous cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling against him.

His deportation was deferred as the international airport in Bali was shut down due to spewing of volcanic ash from a nearby mountain.

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

Sources privy to the developments said Rajan, who was arrested on October 25 after the Australian police tipped off the Bali police about his presence in the island, was to undergo mandatory health check up before boarding a special aircraft for Delhi. Rajan is expected to land in Delhi around 5 am, sources added.

India was keen that the deportation takes place at the earliest and had put in a request to Indonesian authorities immediately after his arrest, the sources said.

Mumbai police is also keen to question Rajan, but it is unlikely that he would be handed over to them, sources said, adding the custody will be given to Special Cell of Delhi police for sometime for being interrogated by sleuths of various agencies.
Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, is wanted in over 75 crimes ranging from murder, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking.

Mumbai police has nearly 70 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 has six cases registered against Rajan, who was a close aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim at one point but split before the 1993 Mumbai blasts were conspired.

75 Cases registered against Rajan in India