Chhota Rajan's deportation from Bali to India likely to be delayed

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that underworld don Chhota Rajan, who was nabbed at Bali airport last month, will be brought to Mumbai.

Bali: Underworld don Chhota Rajan, who was scheduled to be extradited to India on Tuesday night, may have to wait for some more time in Indonesia.

A volcanic eruption has affected flight operations in Bali. Flights were cancelled to and from Denpasar airport today due to volcanic eruption at Mount Rinjani.

An Indian team, which has been working with its Indonesian counterparts to take over Rajan's custody, finalised everything today, paving the way for the gangster's return to India. The decision comes after Denspar Immigration Chief along with the Jakarta Interpol questioned Rajan at the Bali Police Headquarters and a clearance for his deportation was issued.

In the meantime, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the mafia don will be brought to Mumbai from Bali. The CM further assured that security has been beefed up for Rajan's arrival and he is likely to be kept in Anda Cell of Arthur road prison.

Earlier today, Rajan had alleged that "some members" in the Mumbai Police have links with wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.

"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.

Rajan was arrested in Bali on his arrival from Australia on October 25.

The Indian team, comprising officers from CBI, Mumbai and Delhi police, arrived in Bali 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.

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.

(With PTI inputs)