Volcanic eruption in Bali delays Chhota Rajan’s deportation

Bali/Denpasar (Indonesia), November 3
Indian authorities will have to wait for another day to get underworld don Chhota Rajan deported from Indonesia after a volcanic eruption forced Indonesian authorities to close the international airport at Bali, temporarily grounding all flights to the popular holiday island.
Rajan was to be deported to India tonight after Indonesian police gave their nod, clearing the decks for his return home after more than two decades.
Authorities decided to close Ngurah Rai International Airport for four hours until 11.30 pm (1530 GMT) so they could assess the risk posed by a large ash cloud drifting from Mount Rinjani, an active volcano on the nearby island of Lombok.
An Indian Police team, which arrived here on Sunday, completed all formalities for taking custody of Rajan and flying him to India, where he is one of the most wanted criminals.
The volcanic eruption at Mount Rinjani near popular tourist island of Bali has led to several flights being cancelled.
Rajan, who was arrested in Bali on his arrival from Australia on October 25, is wanted in over 75 heinous crimes ranging from murder, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking.
Rajan, whose original name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje, was arrested in Bali on the basis of a Red Corner Notice from Interpol and following a tip off by Australian authorities to the police in Indonesia.
In 2000, there was an attempt on Rajan’s life when his arch rival and India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim’s men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed a dramatic escape.
In the absence of an extradition treaty, the Indian authorities have already provided documents to their Indonesian counterparts about his Indian identity to facilitate his deportation.
‘Some Mumbai Police officials working for Dawood’
Earlier, Chhota Rajan alleged that “some members” in the Mumbai Police have links with wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and said he will keep on fighting against him.
“Some members of the Mumbai Police are working in tandem with Dawood. I will keep on fighting against terrorism and Dawood. I am not scared of Dawood,” said Rajan, a close confidante-turned-rival of Dawood, the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
“The government can keep me anywhere – Delhi or Mumbai. But there should be no injustice done to me. All cases against me are false,” Rajan, who is wanted in over 75 heinous crimes ranging from murder, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking, told reporters when asked whether he was afraid of returning to Mumbai.
“The Mumbai Police have been unjust to me. Delhi government taking note of that should do justice to me,” he said.
The Indian team, comprising officers from CBI, Mumbai and Delhi Police, arrived here on Sunday 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 him yesterday in the presence of Indonesian police at the detention centre where he has been lodged for the last 10 days. First Secretary (consular) in the Indian Embassy in Jakarta, Sanjeev Kumar Agrawal, who met Rajan for nearly half an hour on Sunday, was also present when the Indian team examined Rajan.
While being taken out of the detention centre, Rajan had said that Dawood is currently hiding in Pakistan under the direct patronage of ISI.
“ISI chhupa rahi hai (ISI is hiding him),” he said.
The Mumbai Police have registered 20 murder cases against Rajan, 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. The Delhi Police have got six cases against him.
In 2000, there was an attempt on Rajan’s life when Dawood’s men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed a dramatic escape.
In the absence of an extradition treaty, the Indian authorities have already provided documents to their Indonesian counterparts about his Indian identity to facilitate his deportation.

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