Mumbai: Amidst reports that underworld don Chhota Rajan has been arrested in Bali in Indonesia, the Maharashtra government has decided to request the Centre to first get the dreaded criminal here to investigate his involvement in several cases in the state. Rajan is wanted in 68 cases registered in Mumbai.
Minister of state for home (rural) Ram Shinde said that the state would request the Centre to handover the criminal to Maharashtra. Speaking with Deccan Chronicle, Mr Shinde said, “Chhota Rajan is a most wanted criminal and we need him for investigation in several cases which he is involved.”
Underworld don and former aide of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, Chhota Rajan has as many as 68 cases against him, which include terror cases registered only with the Mumbai Police.
The latest high profile case against Rajan is where he allegedly conspired to kill senior journalist J. Dey from mid-day tabloid in Mumbai.
Rajan has a crime record spanning over a period of 35 years. These 68 crime cases include murder, extortion, Arms Act and attempt to murder cases. He is also booked under stringent acts like Mcoca, Tada and Pota.
He is also wanted for the 1997 contract killing of Dutta Samant (65), a former politician and trade union leader. Samant had become famous for leading a year-long strike with over three lakh mill workers in 1982. Samant was gunned down near his home by four bike borne assailants at the behest of Rajan.
A majority of these cases are being handled by the Mumbai Police crime branch, presently led by joint commissioner Atul Kulkarni and additional commissioner K.M.M. Prasanna. The crime branch (CB) will take DNA samples of Rajan’s close kin over here and also get his finger prints to help ascertain his identity. The CB is also finding out about the property Rajan owns in India and overseas.
The CB is looking forward to attach his properties. It’s learnt that Rajan has daughters who live in Mumbai. The CB is in constant touch with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). CBI has a nodal officer who communicates with the Interpol on their behalf.
