Don Chhota Rajan arrested in Bali, didn’t Surrender: MoS Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI: Don Chhota Rajan was “arrested” in Bali and he did not surrender, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has said, putting the onus now on Pakistan to cooperate in the same manner as the Australian and Indonesian authorities did, for bringing back Dawood Ibrahim.

The suspicion that Rajan organised his arrest in Indonesia was strengthened after government sources said that his protruded stomach as seen in the picture that Interpol released indicated that a Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis unit was attached to his stomach after his kidneys failed.

“It is an arrest… beyond that we will know only later,” Rijiju told ETinan interview on Tuesday, when asked on the speculation that Rajan had given up himself in Indonesia as part of a ‘deal’ with the Indian intelligence agencies since he is ailing and fears increasingly for his life from the Dawood Ibrahim gang. “The exact situation that led to his arrest – the detail has not come yet. We were just given the information that he has been arrested,” Rijiju said.

He was, however, quick to bring the onus on Pakistan to effect the arrest of Dawood Ibrahim in a similar manner. “In this case (Chhota Rajan), the Australian and Indonesian authorities have co-operated...

But Pakistan has never co-operated on Dawood– Pakistan should also co-operate. It is our commitment to get Dawood Ibrahim,” Rijiju has told ET. He pointed out that while an Interpol Red Corner Notice was pending against Rajan and led ultimately to his arrest, a similar notice was also pending against Dawood.

Asked if Rajan will be an ‘asset’ to know more details about Dawood, Rijiju said: “I can’t say how he will be used. If I discuss all that, it will hamper the matter,” Rijiju said. He said India wishes for “immediate deportation” of Rajan from Indonesia and he could be handed over to Mumbai Police which has cases against him.