Proceedings against Chhota Rajan to be held via video conferencing

A Delhi court has allowed the CBI to conduct hearing against Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan via video conferencing, observing that the underworld don has serious threat to his life, court sources said on Wednesday.

Special Judge Vinod Kumar on Tuesday allowed the plea of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in this effect, the sources added.

The CBI told the court that due to serious threat perception associated with the accused from his rivals, it would be extremely unsafe to produce him in open court.

"The accused is required to be produced on December 3. Therefore, I direct that further judicial remand of accused, who is lodged in Tihar Jail, shall be granted through video conferencing facility and accused need not be produced physically in the court," the court said.

The central probe agency has booked Rajan and unknown public servants in a fake passport case on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, cheating by impersonation, forgery of document under the Indian Penal Code.

Rajan is wanted in over 85 cases, ranging from murder to extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking. He has cases pending against him in Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and with the CBI.

The don, held by Indonesian Police on October 25, arrived in Delhi on November 6.