NEW DELHI – Indian government agencies might be taking all the credit for capturing Chhota Rajan - but if sources in Mumbai Police are to be believed - the infamous gangster was the architect of his own arrest, on Tuesday.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed on Monday that Rajan alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje had been arrested at Bali Airport by the Indonesian police, acting on a Red Corner Notice issued by the Interpol. However, a Crime Branch official said Rajan had planned the whole operation and had, in fact, tipped off the authorities himself.
After more than two decades on the run from the authorities and his arch rival and former crime boss - Dawood Ibrahim - advancing age and the need to constantly look over his shoulder got to Rajan (55), and he decided to turn himself in, claimed officials from the Crime Branch.
- Rajan-Dawood rivalry -
Till 1993, Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan were a deadly combination in Mumbai's underworld. It was until the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai tore a rift between them.
Rajan split from D-Company – an organised criminal group controlled by Dawood - and formed his own gang, beginning the famed rivalry between them. Chhota Shakeel then replaced Rajan as Dawood’s “right hand man”.
The Rajan-Dawood separation ignited a bloody gang war. Rajan - along with his close associates - fled from Dubai and vowed to eliminate Dawood and his gang-members
He started killing the 1993 blasts accused and established himself as a 'Hindu' don. He would pass on information about Dawood to cops. In September 2000, Chhota Shakeel planned a hit on Rajan in Bangkok. His men tracked down Rajan in a hotel and fired at him. Rajan was hit by bullets, but managed to escape through the hotel's roof.
- Closer to Indian spy agencies -
Over the years, Rajan has often been perceived to be close to Indian intelligence agencies keen to use his network against Dawood. In July 2005, a team of Mumbai Police officers flew to Delhi and arrested Rajan’s right-hand man Vicky Malhotra, who was travelling in a car with Ajit Kumar Doval, the then director of the Intelligence Bureau and the current National Security Adviser.
Sources say the arrest led to friction between the IB and the Mumbai Police since Malhotra was apparently being used as an asset by the IB. This sparked speculation that intelligence agencies were planning to use Malhotra for an operation against Dawood at the Dubai reception for his daughter’s wedding with Javed Miandad’s son. Eventually, Dawood skipped the reception.
- Wanted in Mumbai -
Rajan is wanted for at least 68 cases in Mumbai alone, including over 20 murder cases and other serious offences. Several of the cases are registered in Tilak Nagar, Chembur, which is Rajan's home turf. It is believed that the Indian authorities will push for the gangster to be handed over to the Mumbai Police.
"We are gathering details regarding all the cases registered against Rajan and are in touch with several central agencies. We are hopeful that the Mumbai Police will get his custody," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Atul Chandra Kulkarni. "We are in discussions as to how investigations will proceed in cases against Rajan, as some of them date back to 1979. We plan to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT)," he added.
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