Rajan brought to Delhi, quizzed

In preventive custody of Interpol-CBI

Chhota Rajan, one of India’s most wanted criminals who has been on the run since 1988, underwent preliminary questioning soon after he was brought to New Delhi from Bali on Friday in an IAF aircraft by a team headed by CBI officials.

The team of seven officers were drawn from the CBI, Delhi Police and the Mumbai Police.

High drama was witnessed at the airport with the media positioning itself to get bytes and pictures of Rajan, who was arrested in Bali on October 25 when he flew in there from Australia.

Rajan (55), who is apparently suffering from various ailments, including kidney failure, was whisked away from the Palam Technical Area (airport) at around 5:30 am accompanied by heavily-armed escort vehicles.

The media could not get a glimpse of Rajan who was transported in a vehicle with tinted glasses. Anticipating a large media presence, security agencies used two convoys. A decoy of two cars was first used to divert the media’s attention, while a third motorcade moved out of the airport from another gate and entered the CBI headquarters avoiding reporters and photographers.

Amid heightened security concerns, authorities are learnt to have decided against taking him to a Delhi court but would request a magistrate to visit the CBI headquarters to conduct proceedings.

There is heavy security presence at the CBI headquarters, which has been closed for public movement. The Quick Reaction Team of CISF, Nagaland Police and Delhi Police are keeping a tight vigil. There was also speculation that he will be kept in a safe house in Delhi.

On arrival, Rajan was taken into preventive custody by the Interpol division of the CBI till the central probe agency completes legal formalities for registering a case for procuring a passport by providing fake documents, and to take over around 70 cases handed over by the Maharashtra government.

“He is in custody of CBI-Interpol. Legal formalities are in progress,” a CBI spokesperson said, adding that Rajan is medically fit and required no dialysis.

Sources said a detailed medical examination was conducted at the CBI headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has prepared a list of questions and is likely to seek joint interrogation of Rajan. The special cell will focus primarily on the alleged nexus between the underworld and terror outfits, said a senior police official.