Chhota Rajan in CBI-Interpol custody, legal formalities underway

Arrested underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan, who was brought to India this morning after being deported from Bali, is under the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Interpol.

The CBI in a statement announced that Chhota Rajan had been successfully brought back to India on deportation from Indonesia today morning.

"He is in custody of CBI- Interpol. Legal formalities are in process," the statement added.

Rajan will be quizzed by the CBI in order to nail India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, since he has been making explosive claims to know the latter's whereabouts and has shown an express desire to 'fight against terrorism'.

The 55-year-old gangster was taken into custody by the CBI after the Maharashtra Government made a surprise announcement yesterday that the entire case related to Rajan will be handled by the CBI and the state government would extend all help to the leading investigating agency, confirming that the gangster would be taken to the national capital and not to Mumbai.

Rajan had earlier expressed his unease at being taken to Mumbai, saying he was in danger from Dawood and his aides and had also alleged that some officials in the Mumbai Police are working with India's most wanted terrorist.

However, the transfer of Rajan's case to the CBI has reportedly miffed the Mumbai Police as former top cops have dubbed the move as an insult.