Jakarta, Oct 26 (Zee News): Acting on a tip-off from the Australian Police, the Indonesian authorities on Sunday arrested Indian fugitive Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, better known as Chhota Rajan.
Wanted in a number of murder cases, Rajan was on Sunday detained as he arrived in the popular resort island of Bali from Sydney.
Bali police spokesman Heri Wiyanto, meanwhile, told news agency AFP that the 55-year-old Rajan had been on the run for two decades, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995.
“We received information from police in Canberra yesterday (Sunday) about the red notice for a murderer,” he told AFP.
“We arrested the man at the airport yesterday (Sunday). What we know is that this man was suspected to have carried out 15 to 20 murders in India.”
Bali police were coordinating with Interpol and Indian authorities, Wiyanto said, adding it was likely Rajan would be deported to India.
A spokesperson for Australian Federal Police said Interpol in Canberra had alerted Indonesian authorities “who apprehended Nikalje at the request of Indian authorities”.
The federal police confirmed last month that Nikalje was living in Australia under another identity and had been in discussions with Indian authorities, the spokesperson said, but would not provide further details.
Interpol’s website states that Rajan was born in Mumbai, and was wanted for multiple charges including murder and possession and use of illegal firearms.
The 55-year-old Rajan was arrested on the CBI's request, the investigating agency's director Anil Sinha confirmed after hours of confusion over the arrest.
"At the request of CBI (interpol) India, the Bali police has arrested an Indian national, Mohan Kumar, alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan. The CBI has been pursuing the matter with Australian authorities. This is a good and close cooperation between India, Australia and Indonesia," the CBI said.
(With AFP and NDTV inputs)