Chhota Rajan says Pakistan’s ISI is hiding Dawood!

Chhota Rajan, the Indian underworld gangster caught on 25th October by the Indonesian police in Bali, has hinted at connections that “some officers” in Mumbai Police have with the underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim. He also stated that he is not afraid of Ibrahim and would continue his fight against him. It is to be known that Rajan was once a close confidante of Dawood, who is wanted for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, in which more than 350 people lost their lives.

Rajan, who was arrested in Bali, the popular tourist town of Indonesia, on his arrival from Australia on October 25, is expected to be produced before a court soon where the Indonesian police will submit details of the cases for which he is wanted in India.

He is likely to be deported to India soon. "The entire process is likely to be completed in next two-three days," an Indian official had said yesterday.

"The government can keep me anywhere - Delhi or Mumbai. But there should be no injustice done to me. All cases against me are false," Rajan, who is wanted in over 75 heinous crimes ranging from murder, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking, told reporters when asked whether he was afraid of returning to Mumbai.

"Mumbai police has been unjust to me. Delhi government taking note of that should do justice to me," he said.

An Indian team has been working with its Indonesian counterparts to take over Rajan's custody.

The Indian team, comprising officers from CBI, Mumbai and Delhi police, arrived here on Sunday and they came along with a detailed dossier on 55-year-old Rajan and his involvement in various crimes in India.

The team for the first time questioned him yesterday in the presence of Indonesian police at the detention centre where he has been lodged for the last 10 days.

First Secretary (consular) in the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, Sanjeev Kumar Agrawal, who met Rajan for nearly half an hour on Sunday, was also present when the Indian team examined Rajan.

While being taken out of the detention centre, Rajan had said that Dawood is currently hiding in Pakistan under the direct patronage of ISI.

"ISI chhupa rahi hai (ISI is hiding him)," he said.

Mumbai Police has registered 20 murder cases against Rajan, 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 got six cases against him.

Rajan, whose original name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje, was arrested in Bali on the basis of a Red Corner Notice from Interpol and following a tip off by Australian authorities to the police in Indonesia.

In 2000, there was an attempt on Rajan's life when Dawood's men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed a dramatic escape.

In the absence of an extradition treaty, the Indian authorities have already provided documents to their Indonesian counterparts about his Indian identity to facilitate his deportation.

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