Chhota Rajan to be brought to Delhi today

IN THE DOCK CBI to get initial custody of fugitive gangster; Delhi Police sleuths to help in interrogation

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led team is set to bring back Mumbai’s fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan from Indonesia to Delhi on Thursday after his deportation.

The central agency will get the first chance to keep him in custody for initial interrogation.

Ending days of speculation on whether Rajan’s custody will be first taken by the Mumbai police — that have 75 cases of serious crimes against him — or their Delhi counterparts, a decision was taken by the security establishment that it would be the CBI that would get to keep Rajan for initial questioning in assistance with Delhi police investigators, said an agency source.

“It has been decided by all the stakeholders that Chhota Rajan will be brought to Delhi first and will stay with the CBI for some time,” the source said.

There are also deliberations on how to try the 80-odd cases against him without jeopardising his security.

Options are being explored to see whether a special court could be constituted to hear cases against Rajan. There is also a probability that the agency may take over a few cases filed by the Delhi police, said a security source.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said a decision about Rajan’s custody will be taken in consultation with the Centre.

Fadnavis, who is understood to have met national security adviser Ajit Doval in Delhi, told PTI: “Right now, the Centre is deporting him and then we will decide. I think it is not the right time to reveal our strategy. The Centre and state governments (will work) together.”