Charges framed against Chhota Rajan, 3 others in fake passport case

New Delhi: A Delhi Court on Wednesday framed charges against gangster Chhota Rajan and three others in a fake passport case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier in February filed a chargesheet against Rajan and three passport officials - Jayshree Rahate, Deepak Natvarlal Shah and Lalita Laxmanan - at the Patiala House Court for providing a fake passport to the gangster.

Read: Court to pass order of charge against Chhota Rajan on June 8

The chargesheet has been filed under Sections 120, 419, 420, 468, 471 and Prevention of Corruption Act (1988) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Gangster Chhota Rajan had used fictitious identity with the help of a fake passport to escape the law as he was accused in several cases of heinous nature, involving murder, the CBI told a special court last month.

The agency told the Special Judge Vinod Kumar that the government officials conspired to issue the passport to Rajan in the name of one Mohan Kumar, a non-existent person in complete violation of procedures.

"He (Rajan) was accused in several cases of heinous nature, involving charges of murder and extortion. In 1995, a Red Corner Notice was issued against him, therefore, he used a new identity to escape," the prosecution told the court.
It added that in most of the documents recovered from him, Rajan had used the name of Mohan Kumar.

The agency had filed a charge sheet for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery under the IPC and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Passport Act.