Underworld don Chhota Rajan has disclosed the names of Mumbai Police officers who are allegedly under the payroll of Dawood Ibrahim to CBI. According to sources, Rajan is likely to reveal the names of some journalists too who work for underworld. He also will divulge information about Dawood’s properties and its custodians in the middle-east. According to him some retired police officials too are in close contact with Dawood.
Mumbai-born Chhota Rajan is wanted for over 75 crimes ranging from murder and extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking. He was arrested by Indonesian Police in Bali upon his arrival from Australia on October 25.
“Rajan will reveal the names of some journalists who work for underworld” said a source on the condition of anonymity.
CBI will conduct a probe into the allegations made by Rajan. They also have apprehensions that Rajan might be seeking revenge against some police officers.
The CBI officials are likely to meet their senior counterparts from the police to discuss the nitty-gritty concerning the documents of cases and other material related to the don, which are in possession of the local police, sources said.
“The city police will hand over all the concerned documents, materials, evidences gathered against Rajan in all cases to the CBI,” a police official said.
“Mumbai Police has committed a lot of atrocities on me and I don’t trust them. There are some in the Mumbai Police who are working with Dawood. The Delhi government should do justice with me keeping that in mind. I am not scared of Dawood and I will continue fighting against him and terrorism,” Rajan informed media.
After being on the run for the past 27 years, Rajan was brought morning from Indonesia by a joint team headed by CBI officials for facing trial in various criminal cases registered against him in Delhi and Mumbai. He has been taken to the CBI headquarters where he is likely to be formally arrested.
Within hours of being deported to India from Indonesia where he was arrested, underworld don Chhota Rajan has started singing. He has spelled out the names of Mumbai Police officers those who has or has had links with India’s most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim. Moreover, sources said that he is also ready to expose the names of politicians and journalists who had underworld links. Rajan has proved one thing that the biggest gangsters in the world are those who wear uniform, and in India no gangster can survive without the help of ‘Khaki’ and ‘Khadi’. The motives and plot behind his arrival is not sure, but Modi was keen in bringing Dawood to India but they caught Rajan. Rajan had earlier claimed that some in the Mumbai Police were in touch with Dawood Ibrahim. As per the report, Rajan told CBI during interrogation that some retired Mumbai Police officers had acted as a bridge between Dawood and senior cops. Rajan, after his arrest, had also expressed reservation over plans to lodge him in a Mumbai jail, fearing that Dawood may target him there. Rajan was brought to New Delhi early on Friday from the Indonesian tourist city of Bali by a joint team headed by CBI officials to face trial in over 70 cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling in Delhi and Mumbai. He was taken straight to the CBI headquarters where he was subjected to a preliminary round of questioning.
Due to security concerns, Rajan, who has reportedly tipped Indian security agencies about the movement of Dawood Ibrahim and his aides, is unlikely to be taken to a Delhi court and instead a magistrate will be brought to the CBI headquarters for his remand. Upon his arrival, he was taken into preventive custody of Interpol division of the CBI till the central probe agency completes legal formalities for registering a case of allegedly procuring fake passport and takes over the 70 cases handed over by Maharashtra government. Ahead of his arrival in India, Maharashtra government made a surprise announcement of handing over all the cases related to the underworld don to the CBI as the agency had expertise in handling such cases. This move comes barely a few days after the state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had been making claims that Rajan will be brought only to Mumbai.
Let it be plot or favoured by BJP whatsoever, but the fact is that one of the dreaded gangster is back in India and will spend his time in jail. Maharashtra CM has assured about his security to centre but Rajan was taken to Delhi because he has life threat here in Mumbai. Anyway, Maharashtra is always over burdened with the heavy amount of expenses to secure the criminals and gangsters, from Abu Salem to Ajmal Kasab and now Chhota Rajan. Hundreds of crores are spend on them to protect them whereas farmers are committing suicide. State has many crucial issues to be addressed. Government seeks donations to do relief work but manage to spend on these gangsters. Irony is that BJP is taking extra care of this gangster who is called as ‘Hindu terrorist’ by so called media.
Rajan had alleged that “some members” in the Mumbai Police have links with wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. This is world known fact that each gangster let it be Rajan, Dawood or Gawli had their uniformed shooters in department and khadi ‘goons’ to protect them. Many times, nexus between the men in khaki and the Mumbai underworld has surfaced. However, Chhota Rajan allegation on police officers as he is Dawood’s counterpart is purely based on his insecurity and fear. From the late 90s, the methods adopted by ‘encounter specialists’ of the Mumbai police to eliminate gangsters is under scrutiny. These men were accused of carrying out fake encounters as agents of the underworld. Just three men, Pradeep Sharma, Daya Naik and Ravindra Angre have eliminated more than 240 encounters. Pradeep Sharma has a staggering total of a 104 encounters to his “credit”.
Daya Nayak, with 85 encounters under his belt, was arrested for underworld links and owning disproportionate assets. He was reinstated in 2010. Ravindra Angre, responsible for 52 encounters, was arrested for assaulting and trying to extort money from a local builder and has been granted bail.
Rajan’s main areas of operation, according to information from intelligence reports and his arrested aides are printing counterfeit currency and drug trade. The Interpol listed him as a wanted man in 1995 for carrying out 17 murders. Rajan was believed to be operating in south East Asian countries and also believed to be passing information about Dawood’s involvement in the 1993 blasts to Indian intelligence agencies. Irony is that, world’s top intelligence, Interpol and Rajan’s information could not nab Dawood yet. Even, Osama Bin Laden was killed but Dawood was never ever caught or traced.
Government agencies might be taking all the credit for capturing Chhota Rajan, but if sources in Mumbai Police are to be believed, the infamous gangster was the architect of his own arrest. After more than two decades on the run from the authorities and his arch rival and former crime boss, Dawood Ibrahim, advancing age and the need to constantly look over his shoulder got to Rajan (55), and he decided to turn himself in.
Now, Chhota Rajan is on Indian soil after 27 years, with luxuries and z+ security in jail. Let’s see, how he will be bailed out or proven guilty.
The sessions court reserved its order till November 18 on Mumbai Police’s plea seeking to make Pakistani-American LeT terrorist David Headley an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case.
The police had filed the application before the sessions judge G A Sanap on October 8.
The court this week framed charges against Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, one of the key conspirators of the Mumbai terror attack.
The prosecution today told the sessions court that Headley had not been tried under Indian law for 26/11 conspiracy.
“An American court is not competent to try offences under Indian Penal Code. The charges for which Headley has been convicted by the US court and the charges we are pursuing against him are entirely different,” said Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.
The judge said that the judgement of a foreign court only has “persuasive value” and it cannot be relied upon as evidence. “He should have been made a wanted accused. You are coming with evidence collected by others,” he said.
The judge also sought to know why the Mumbai police did not launch an investigation after the US took Headley’s custody.
Earlier, the Mumbai police had moved an application before the sessions court seeking issuance of Letter of Request (LR) against Headley for his production through video conference in connection with the 26/11 case.
The present application says that Headley deserves to be tried by the Mumbai court along with Jundal as both are conspirators and abettors.
Headley, accused of conducting a recce of targets before the Mumbai terror attack, was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment by a court in the USA after he entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the US government.
Underworld don Chhota Rajan is in Central Bureau of Investigation custody and organised crime unit of the investigating agency is likely to probe the gangster’s case, sources said on Friday. But the final decision will be taken after CBI chief returns.
It is unlikely that the CBI will begin Rajan’s interrogation.
Meanwhile, Rajan who suffers from kidney ailments is likely to be taken to AIIMS for dialysis.
Rajan was finally brought back to India on Friday after being on the run for the past 27 years. Rajan landed at Delhi’s Palam airport at around 5:30 AM from Indonesia and was taken to the CBI headquarters at Lodhi Road for interrogation.
The sources said that Rajan will be allowed legal assistance as law permits and the government will provide him with a lawyer if he is not represented. Heavy security has been put in place outside the CBI headquarter.
The 55-year-old gangster, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, will be kept in the national capital where he will be questioned as he has been making claims of having more evidence to nail India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and his links with Pakistan’s ISI.
Immediately after his arrival in an Indian Air Force Gulfstream-III aircraft from Indonesia’s Bali, Rajan, who is considered as a ‘friendly don’ as he reportedly tipped Indian security agencies about the movement of Dawood and his aides, was whisked away under tight security.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the latter’s home turf in Baramati, and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley followed it up with a visit last month, it was now the turn of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to come calling.
Pawar hosted Fadnavis in Baramati on Friday, like he did with senior BJP leaders Modi and Jaitley. Fadnavis inaugurated a three-day agro exhibition organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Baramati. Fadnavis, who reached the venue in a battery operated vehicle, was also taken around the exhibition by Pawar. The NCP chief occupied the front seat of the vehicle while Fadnavis and agriculture minister Eknath Khadse sat behind.
At the inaugural event, in the Appasaheb Pawar auditorium, Pawar reminded Fadnavis that three years ago Maharashtra was leading in pulses production. During his visit to Baramati last month, Jaitley had showered praise on Pawar and called for replication of ‘Baramati model’ for development of the country. “The country would require hundreds of cities like Baramati for the progress of the economy,” Jaitley had said.
In February this year, Modi had addressed a farmers rally organised by Pawar in Baramati. Speaking at the rally, the Prime Minister had lauded the Maratha strongman and had talked about their friendship.
“Sharadrao has years of experience and he knows more than I do. It’s my responsibility to seek his guidance when I am faced with an issue,” Modi had said.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who is facing a probe by ACB in an alleged irrigation scam, was also present at today’s event at Baramati. Fadnavis recently made it clear that the visits of high profile government functionaries to Baramati won’t affect the probe.
The Bombay High Court has asked the Union government to file an affidavit by December 9, informing it about the recommendations it proposes to make for establishing learning disability centres all over Maharashtra.
A bench of the court also asked the Maharashtra government to coordinate with the Centre for acquiring funds from it for establishing such learning disability centres.
The HC was hearing a petition filed by Dr. Haresh Shetty, a psychiatrist, seeking a direction to the government to help children suffering from learning disability.
Government pleaders Geeta Shastri and J S Saluja submitted a report to the HC on progress made towards establishment of learning disability centres at government medical colleges and hospitals in Maharashtra.
The report also mentioned that these centres are set up at KEM Hospital in Mumbai and Sassoon Hospital in Pune and that the Central government proposes to start learning disability centres in 32 districts of the state.
The bench noted that the report has stated the dates on which learning disability Centres will become functional.
The judges said they hoped the time schedule mentioned in the report is adhered to and the centres become operational on the date on which they are given the necessary equipment.
Justices V M Kanade and Anil Menon asked the committee appointed by it earlier to look into this report and give its suggestions to the officers working with the Central and state governments.
“Unfortunately, we find that the Central government has not made any recommendations and their counsel is also not present for hearing,” said the judges recently while asking the Centre to file an affidavit on December 9.
The High Court, however, was of the view that both the state government and the Centre would have to take steps to create an awareness among parents and educational institutions about the learning disability of students.
Three more victims of the “botched-up” cataract surgery held in Washim district of Maharashtra last month regained their vision at J J Hospital, taking to seven the total number of patients who have got their eye sight back so far.
The doctors had yesterday managed to restore eye sight in four patients.
“A total of 23 patients were brought here who had contracted severe ‘pseudomonas’ (bacterial) infection in their eyes. All were operated. While four regained their eyesight yesterday, three regained it today,” noted ophthalmologist and Dean, J J Hospital, Dr T P Lahane said.
To a query, he said it would be premature to assess exact number of patients who have completely lost their vision in the alleged botched-up surgeries.
Yesterday, varying reports quoted different number of patients to have lost their vision in the surgery.
“Rest of the 16 patients (excluding 7 who have got their eyesight back) have also been operated. It will take one week to one month and we would be able to comment on how many have lost their vision after that. Treatment is going on and each patient is under medical supervision. We are paying full attention to them,” Lahane said.
The vision of 19 patients was critically affected after alleged botched-up surgeries by doctors at a cataract check-up camp in Washim district.
Washim’s civil surgeon and the doctor who performed surgeries on the patients were already suspended while similar action has been recommended on a doctor at Akola Medical College.
The victims had gone for cataract surgery in Washim during a camp held there between October 6 and 29. But, from October 13, few patients started coming back to hospital with complaints of watery, itchy and red eyes, and blurred vision.
“When these patients started turning up at Washim hospital, the doctors, without analysing the cause, referred them to the medical college at Akola, where also they did not get proper attention for over 10 days, which shows serious and criminal negligence,” a health official had said.
After the incident was brought to the notice of health department officials, these 23 affected patients were shifted from Washim and Akola to J J Hospital to regain their eyesight under the supervision of world class ophthalmologists.
The Supreme Court refused to grant relief to Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi’s on his plea to retain tenancy rights over a bungalow in Juhu in Mumbai and directed him to vacate the premises by the end of the year.
A bench, comprising justices J S Khehar and R Banumathi, directed Pancholi to vacate the premises by December 31 and said “you are a big man. You can buy a flat. This conduct is not acceptable.”
Pancholi had approched the apex court after the Bombay High Court rejected his plea to retain the tenancy rights over the bungalow and pay arrears to the owner.
The bungalow located near Juhu’s ISKCON Temple was rented in 1960 at the rate of Rs 150 a month. The suit was filed by Tarabai Hate, owner of the bungalow, in July 1977 after Rajan Pancholi, Aditya’s father, failed to pay the rent which amounted to Rs 1,384.
On November 2, Pancholi had told the apex court that he was willing to take the premises and pay rent on current rates. The counsel appearing for the owner of the bungalow had sought time to seek instructions from the client.
During the proceedings today, the owner told the court that she was not willing to rent it out to Pancholi.
Maharashtra postal circle aims to install 75 automated teller machines (ATM) by the end of this month, including two more in Mumbai region, a senior official said on Friday.
Out of 75 ATMs, which have been decided to be installed at different locations of the circle, 17 would be installed in Mumbai region, 17 in Aurangabad, 14 in Goa, 16 in Nagpur and 11 in Pune.
“We have successfully installed 11 ATMs across the circle so far, which are completely functional, and would install two more in Mumbai region by the end of this month,” said a senior postal official, adding the two ATMs would be installed at Dadar and Chinchbunder.
Currently, two ATMs each are functional in Mumbai, Nagpur, Goa, Aurangabad and three in Pune city.
“The ATM facilities would be launched shortly and the work of processing postal ATM cards is underway, to allow e-account holders to withdraw money from any postal ATM, provided they have enough savings.
“Customers can use any other Core Banking Solution (CBS) enabled facility to withdraw or deposit money into his/her account. Hence, a post office savings account holder from Mumbai can visit the post office with CBS facility in Pune, Goa, Delhi or Kolkata and use the ATM to withdraw or deposit money,” the official added.
In an effort to provide enhanced and value-added solutions to its customers, India Post had announced to set up 1,000 ATM centres at different post offices across the country as part of its massive IT modernisation project.
The route for the half marathon race in the annual Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, scheduled on January 17, is to undergo a change, race promoters Procam International announced.
The half marathon competitors would get to run on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link twice in their quest to complete the 21.1km journey, a media release said.
The race would start opposite the Worli Dairy on the northbound carriageway of the Worli Sea Face in the 13th edition of the event and not at Bandra.
The second portion of the route, however, would be the same as before once the runners reach National Sports Club of India, the release added.
“Over the years, with the growth in the running community, we have felt the need to increase the holding area for the half marathoners. With the expanse of the Worli Dairy, we will be able to provide enhanced facilities, for the runners before they start their run,” said the race promoters’ joint MD, Vivek Singh.
Underworld don Chhota Rajan has disclosed the names of Mumbai Police officers who are allegedly under the payroll of Dawood Ibrahim to CBI. According to sources, Rajan is likely to reveal the names of some journalists too who work for underworld. He also will divulge information about Dawood’s properties and its custodians in the middle-east. According to him some retired police officials too are in close contact with Dawood.
The sessions court reserved its order till November 18 on Mumbai Police’s plea seeking to make Pakistani-American LeT terrorist David Headley an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case.
Underworld don Chhota Rajan is in Central Bureau of Investigation custody and organised crime unit of the investigating agency is likely to probe the gangster’s case, sources said on Friday. But the final decision will be taken after CBI chief returns.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the latter’s home turf in Baramati, and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley followed it up with a visit last month, it was now the turn of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to come calling.