Underworld gangster Chhota Rajan arrested in Bali, likely to be deported to India

Fugitive Chhota Rajan, wanted over a series of murders in India, has been arrested in Indonesia by Bali Police after decades on the run.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed the arrest of the underworld don in Indonesia.

According to an official statement by the probe agency, at the request of CBI (interpol) India, the Bali Police has arrested an Indian national - Mohan Kumar on October 25. Mohan Kumar alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan is a fugitive and the CBI has been pursuing the matter with Australian authorities.

Acting on a tip-off from the Australian Police, Indonesian authorities detained Chhota Rajan on Sunday after he arrived in a resort island of Bali from Sydney.

The 55-year-old Nikalje, an alleged crime boss in India, had been on the run for two decades, Bali police spokesman Heri Wiyanto told AFP with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995.

He said the department received information from police in Canberra on Sunday about the red notice for a murderer.

"We arrested the man at the airport. What we know is that this man was suspected to have carried out 15 to 20 murders in India."

A spokesperson for Australian Federal Police said Interpol in Canberra had alerted Indonesian authorities "who apprehended Nikalje at the request of Indian authorities".

The federal police confirmed last month that Nikalje was living in Australia under another identity and had been in discussions with Indian authorities, the spokesperson said, but would not provide further details.

(Image: Reuters)