Mumbai police miffed as Rajan cases go to CBI

The Indonesian authorities have handed over underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, also known as Chota Rajan in India, to the Indian Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) officials, reported Indian media. He kissed the ground on his arrival in Delhi.

Rajan, after his arrest, had expressed reservation over plans to lodge him in a Mumbai jail, fearing that his arch- rival and India's most needed terrorist Dawood Ibrahim might goal him there.

Rajan, who faces around 70 criminal cases under various sections of TADA, POTA and MCOCA in Mumbai, was taken into custody in Bali, a popular tourist town of Indonesia. The mafia don declined to comment on how he would "help" the Indian government, but reiterated that he would do all to thwart his erstwhile partner in crime, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, presently believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

Rajan is needed in over seventy five crimes starting from homicide, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking.

Due to the volcanic eruption the scheduled plan was delayed from Tuesday as the Bali airport was closed leading to the cancellation of all flights.

Nikalje was transferred amid heavy police guard from his holding cell to a military airport and departed for India late on Thursday, hours after the Bali airport reopened for flights.

On Thursday, the Maharashtra government and Mumbai police trying very hard to justify the transfer of Rajan's cases to the CBI; we are abiding by the terms of the United Nations transnational crimes treaty, they said.

Interpol's website said Rajan was wanted for multiple charges including murder and possession and use of illegal firearms. He was deported from Bali in a special aircraft that carried six Indian officials, including two from Delhi Police, CBI and Mumbai Police.

Once these formalities are completed, Rajan will be formally arrested by the CBI.

In 2000, there was a try on Rajan's life when Dawood's males tracked him down to a lodge in Bangkok however, he managed a dramatic escape by leaping from the primary flooring of the lodge.

A senior officer who had been handling the don-related cases in Mumbai said that it would be hard for the CBI to handle the probe without the expertise of the Mumbai police.

Five of the cases registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell pertain to the arrest of Rajan's henchman Farid Tayyab Tanashah and his four aides Nayan Singh Bist, Rajesh Namdev Kamte and Nepalese nationals Karan Bahadur Ram and Prem Chand Thakur in 1999.