Chhota Rajan's arrest: Lack of extradition treaty not a hurdle, says government

NEW DELHI: While India is yet to formalize an extradition treaty with Indonesia, the government said it will not come in the way of its attempts to bring back gangster Chhota Rajan from Bali.

"We don't need a formal extradition treaty for somebody to be extradited to another country . There are various others means and arrangements in today's day and age...and it has happened before," said Anil Wadhwa, MEA secretary (East). While India and Indonesia signed the treaty in 2011, Indonesia has not ratified the pact so far.

Wadhwa added that India and Indonesia have to exchange letters ratifying the treaty for the extradition pact to come into force. It might happen during the upcoming visit of vice-president M Hamid Ansari to Indonesia next week. Ansari will embark on a visit to Indonesia and Brunei from November 1 to November 6. At this stage, though, the government does not believe that Ansari may be required to take up the issue with Indonesian authorities.

Asked whether the ministry had sought any report on Rajan's arrest, Wadhwa said this is an issue on which India, Indonesia and Australia are in touch, and it is handled through Interpol. "There are no further details that are required at the moment because action is being taken as was anticipated so far," he said.