by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
￭ Arrested in Indonesia following Australian police tip-off
In all likelihood, he will be deported soon from Indonesia though India had signed an extradition treaty in 2011 itself and both countries have friendly relations. A team of the CBI may also be dispatched to Bali to ascertain his identity. CBI Director Anil Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of the ITBP annual Raising Day function that one Mohan Kumar (alias Chhota Rajan) had been arrested in Bali at the agency's request. "The CBI had been tracking him across the globe for years and Red Corner Notice had been sent to Australia as Chhota Rajan had been hiding there lately," he said. The Australian Police alerted Indonesia as soon as it noticed "Mohan Kumar traveling to Bali and he was detained there. His identify will be confirmed", he disclosed.
A beaming Union home minister Rajnath Singh held a special press briefing to express satisfaction over the arrest. When asked when will Dawood Ibrahim be arrested, Rajnath Singh smiled and said, " Aap Sab Dekhte Jayeeye, aage aage kya hota hai." (You wait and see what follows next). Highly placed sources in the intelligence agencies say that Chhota Rajan's utility in catching Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and their aides has diminished over the years. Though he had been instrumental in some of the operations to catch the underworld don in the past, he had been unable to lend his helping hand to the agencies for several years. No doubt, he was part of a top secret operation in 2005 with the help of gangster Vicky Malhotra and former IB chief Ajit Doval who is currently the National Security Adviser in the Modi government. But the operation failed due to sabotaging by the Mumbai Police which arrested Vicky Malhotra in Delhi who was sitting with Ajit Doval and planning to arrest Dawood whose daughter's marriage was being planned to be held with Javed Miandad's son. Later it was found out that an encounter specialist of Mumbai Police was behind this sabotage.
Later Chhota Rajan's name surfaced in the murder of a Mumbai journalist J Dey a couple of years ago whom he suspected to be leaking information to the Dawood & company. Chhota Rajan who was part of Dawood Ibrahim's gang until 1993 and had fallen out later. But for the past few years he had been running for a cover to save his own life and his gang had weakened considerably unable to help the agencies. Therefore, the agencies must have reached a conclusion that he be brought to correct the perspective that the government was using a junior gangster to catch the Don.
Therefore, the arrest of Chhota Rajan has to be seen in this perspective.
Chhota Rajan's arrest is a clear signal of toughening of stance of the Modi government which seems to have decided to bring such criminals to justice. The statement made by the spokesperson for Australian Federal Police lifts the veil of mystery behind the arrest when he said, "The Interpol in Canberra had alerted Indonesian authorities "who apprehended Nikalje at the request of Indian authorities".
The Australian police further confirmed that Nikalje was living in Australia under another identity and it had been in discussions with Indian authorities on the issue. He refused to provide further details. It's a clear sign that Chhota Rajan's movements were known to the Indian agencies and arrest is no surprise either. Perhaps, he has been brought to safety. But with 15-20 murders in his name, he is unlikely to come of jail for the rest of his life.
￭ Arrested in Indonesia following Australian police tip-off
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, 27 Oct : With the arrest of Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan, in Bali (Indonesia) late last night, his honeymoon with the Indian intelligence agencies seems to have finally ended.
In all likelihood, he will be deported soon from Indonesia though India had signed an extradition treaty in 2011 itself and both countries have friendly relations. A team of the CBI may also be dispatched to Bali to ascertain his identity. CBI Director Anil Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of the ITBP annual Raising Day function that one Mohan Kumar (alias Chhota Rajan) had been arrested in Bali at the agency's request. "The CBI had been tracking him across the globe for years and Red Corner Notice had been sent to Australia as Chhota Rajan had been hiding there lately," he said. The Australian Police alerted Indonesia as soon as it noticed "Mohan Kumar traveling to Bali and he was detained there. His identify will be confirmed", he disclosed.
A beaming Union home minister Rajnath Singh held a special press briefing to express satisfaction over the arrest. When asked when will Dawood Ibrahim be arrested, Rajnath Singh smiled and said, " Aap Sab Dekhte Jayeeye, aage aage kya hota hai." (You wait and see what follows next). Highly placed sources in the intelligence agencies say that Chhota Rajan's utility in catching Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and their aides has diminished over the years. Though he had been instrumental in some of the operations to catch the underworld don in the past, he had been unable to lend his helping hand to the agencies for several years. No doubt, he was part of a top secret operation in 2005 with the help of gangster Vicky Malhotra and former IB chief Ajit Doval who is currently the National Security Adviser in the Modi government. But the operation failed due to sabotaging by the Mumbai Police which arrested Vicky Malhotra in Delhi who was sitting with Ajit Doval and planning to arrest Dawood whose daughter's marriage was being planned to be held with Javed Miandad's son. Later it was found out that an encounter specialist of Mumbai Police was behind this sabotage.
Later Chhota Rajan's name surfaced in the murder of a Mumbai journalist J Dey a couple of years ago whom he suspected to be leaking information to the Dawood & company. Chhota Rajan who was part of Dawood Ibrahim's gang until 1993 and had fallen out later. But for the past few years he had been running for a cover to save his own life and his gang had weakened considerably unable to help the agencies. Therefore, the agencies must have reached a conclusion that he be brought to correct the perspective that the government was using a junior gangster to catch the Don.
Therefore, the arrest of Chhota Rajan has to be seen in this perspective.
Chhota Rajan's arrest is a clear signal of toughening of stance of the Modi government which seems to have decided to bring such criminals to justice. The statement made by the spokesperson for Australian Federal Police lifts the veil of mystery behind the arrest when he said, "The Interpol in Canberra had alerted Indonesian authorities "who apprehended Nikalje at the request of Indian authorities".
The Australian police further confirmed that Nikalje was living in Australia under another identity and it had been in discussions with Indian authorities on the issue. He refused to provide further details. It's a clear sign that Chhota Rajan's movements were known to the Indian agencies and arrest is no surprise either. Perhaps, he has been brought to safety. But with 15-20 murders in his name, he is unlikely to come of jail for the rest of his life.
