CBI gets 10-day custody of Chhota Rajan

Long-absconding underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, alias Chhota Rajan, who was arrested in Indonesia and brought to India, was sent to 10 days custody of the CBI by a court here, officials said on Saturday.

The probe agency booked Rajan and unknown public servants in a fake passport case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case of criminal conspiracy, cheating, cheating by impersonation, forgery of document under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Apart from these cases, Rajan has also been charged by the agency under the Passport Act, 1967, and separate sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. “It has been alleged that Rajan got prepared an Indian passport in the fake name of Mohan Kumar with an address of Karnataka,” said CBI sources. 

Sources in the agency also confirmed that Rajan had reached Australia on September 22, 2003 on the strength of the same passport and a tourist visa.

“He later fraudulently obtained several different visas since then and continued to stay in Australia till October 25, 2015,” the sources said. Rajan is wanted for over 85 crimes, ranging from murder to extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking.