India finally ‘gets’ Chhota Rajan in Bali

Underworld don Chota Rajan, one of India’s most wanted criminals who has been on the run for nearly two decades, was arrested in Bali by Indonesian police, acting on a Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol.

The arrest was made on a tip off from Australian police that 55-year-old Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Mohan Kumar alias Chota Rajan, the powerful aide-turned-rival of terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, had flown from Sydney to Indonesia’s popular tourist destination Bali, where he was arrested on Sunday. 

Nikalje, an alleged crime boss in India, had been on the run for two decades, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995. A recently-signed pact with Indonesia may come in handy for India to bring back arrested underworld don Chhota Rajan as the agreement allows deportation of criminals on either side based on a court warrant.

Rajan’s  arrest was confirmed by CBI director Anil Sinha, who said that Rajan was arrested after a request was made by the agency through Interpol. “We thank authorities in Australia and Indonesia for their prompt assistance. Further investigation and identification are being carried out and further action will be taken as required under law,” said Anil Sinha.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh also thanked the Interpol and the Indonesian government for Rajan’s arrest. “Once identification and verification is done, appropriate action will be taken,” Singh said while thanking Interpol and the Indonesian authorities for their assistance in nabbing Rajan. “At the request of CBI Interpol, India the Bali Police has arrested an Indian national Mohan Kumar yesterday. Mohan Kumar alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chota Rajan is a fugitive and CBI has been pursuing the matter with the Australian authorities,” CBI Spokesperson Devpreet Singh said.

She further said the arrest was a result of 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,” she said. Police in Indonesia are now coordinating with Interpol and Indian officials with indications that Rajan would be deported to India now.  

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home, Ram Shinde, said the state would request the Centre to allow Rajan to be taken to Mumbai after he is deported to India. Born in Mumbai, Rajan began his career in crime by black marketing movie tickets in the 1970s and later became a trusted henchman of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, the absconding don from Mumbai who is reportedly hiding in Pakistan. 

Both fell out after the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and Chhota Rajan slipped out of India in 1995, remaining on the run till his arrest on Sunday.

In, 2000, there was an attempt on Chhota Rajan’s life when Dawood’s men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok. Rajan escaped through the hotel’s roof. Rajan had been living in Australia under another identity and had reportedly been in discussions with Indian authorities.