Chhota Rajan deportation to India likely in next 2-3 days

Indian police team today for the first time questioned underworld don Chhota Rajan and officials believe that he could be deported to India in the next two-three days. Rajan, who was arrested in this popular tourist town upon arrival from Australia on October 25, is expected to be produced before a court soon where the Indonesian police will submit details of the cases for which he is wanted in India. Indian police team has been working with their Indonesian counterparts to take over Rajan's custody as early as possible.

"If the lawyer engaged by Rajan does not oppose his deportation to India, we will hand him over to the Indian police team which has come here. The entire process is likely to be completed in next two-three days," an official said. However, if the lawyer opposes Rajan's deportation to India, the process may get longer, the official said.

Rajan has hired a lawyer, Fransico Prassar, who met him at the detention centre a few times. The Indian team, comprising officers from CBI, Mumbai and Delhi police, arrived here yesterday and they came along with a detailed dossier on 55-year-old Rajan and his involvement in various crimes in India. The team for the first time questioned Rajan today in presence of Indonesian police at the detention centre where he has been lodged for the last ten days.

First Secretary (consular) in the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, Sanjeev Kumar Agrawal, who met Rajan for nearly half an hour yesterday, was also present when the Indian team examined Rajan. While being taken out of the detention centre, Rajan told reporters that his bete noire and India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is currently hiding in Pakistan under the direct patronage of ISI. "ISI chhupa rahi hai (ISI is hiding him)," he said.

Mumbai Police has registered 75 cases against Rajan, including 20 of murder, four cases under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, one under Prevention of Terrorism Act and over 20 cases under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. Delhi Police has got six cases against him.