Meet Chhota Rajan: A petty criminal who went on to rule underworld


Mumbai, Oct 26 (PTI): From a black marketer of movie tickets to one of the most wanted men in India, dreaded underworld element Chhota Rajan had a roller-coaster ride in the underworld in a crime career spanning decades during which he split with one- time boss Dawood Ibrahiam and survived a near fatal attack.

The arrest of 55-year-old gangster, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhaljee, in Indonesia yesterday marks a significant development in the history of Mumbais underworld, subject of many a film, and comes as a boost for Indian security agencies which have been tracking him since long.

Rajan started his career in crime by black marketing movie tickets in the metropolis in 1970s and 80s at Sahakar Cinema in Tilak Nagar under the tutelage of Rajan Mahadev Nair alias Bada Rajan who then headed a small gang and worked with Matunga-based underworld don Vardarajan Mudliar.

Born in Tilak Nagar, where his family still resides, it is said poverty and illiteracy forced Chhota Rajan to take up black-marketing of film tickets.

An ambitious Rajan soon graduated from a petty criminal to become the right-hand man of Bada Rajan. In 1983, Bada Rajan was shot dead outside Esplanade Court in South Mumbai by Chandrasekhar Safalika and Abdul Kunju.

The killing of his mentor by rival gang members was avenged by Rajan who tipped off Inspector Emmanuel Amolik who killed Safalika in an encounter.

Further, Kunju was killed by don Rama Naiks men in Shell Colony area of Chembur while playing cricket at the behest of Rajan.

These two killings helped Rajan stamp his name in the underworld. He then came in contact with Dawood who was an established gold smuggler by early 1980s.

Dawood needed a strong man who would look after the gangland activities in Mumbai. He selected Rajan for the job.

When Rajan was working with the Dawood faction, most of the old dons like Mudliar and Naik had ceased to exist in the underworld due to police and political pressures.

Dawoods escape to Dubai in 1984 led Rajan to operate the Dawood faction in the city till 1988, after which he, too, fled to the Gulf city

  

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Comment on this article

  • Ravi B Shenava, Mangaluru

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Not only Chota Rajan but all the Gangsters of Mumbai like Dawood, Gavali, Amar Naik, Ram Naik, Sharad Shetty, Sadhu Shetty, Ravi Pujari, Hemanth Pujari, all started their criminal activity first by selling Film tickets in black market outside central Mumbai & South Mumbai during the period from 1972 to 1985. Actually Gavali & Ram Naik were also pick poketers in Mumbai local trains.
    It was Mumbai Politicians and Mumbai Police and also Shiv Sena Corporators who acted as God fathers to these petty criminals and helped them to grow into underworld dons.
    So we have to blame only Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Politicians for making such dangerous underworld dons out of petty criminals.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Very soon he will be SOCIAL WORKER like Muttappa Rai!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEACE LOVER, INDIA

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Government agencies might be taking all the credit for capturing Chhota Rajan,but Chota Rajan himself was the architect of his own arrest! According to a Crime Branch official Rajan had planned the whole operation and had, in fact, tipped off the authorities himself. After more than two decades on the run from the authorities and his arch rival Dawood, and advancing age, having health problem (kidney related issues) as well as bullet injury he had received in an attack in 2000.
    First of all he will get full treatment for his health problems and he will freely operate his criminal activities from inside the jail.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, DOH / IXE

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Tomorrow's Daiji News:

    Bajrang Dal demands 25lakhs for HINDU Don

    BJP recommends Bharata Ratna for Patriotic don.

    DisAgree [37] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • RR, Kudla

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Sreeman Chota rajanaji.....you are safe in India.....welcome to India sir.....
    May god bless you.....

    DisAgree [3] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • abhyankar, MUMBAI

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Ahmed so sad to seeyour mentality.

    DisAgree [15] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • amith shetty, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Dear Ahmed, thanks for your comment. This shows your mentality. SO will you or your people demand 25 lakhs if Dawood bhai gets arrest? Kindly confirm

    DisAgree [11] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, DOH / IXE

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Chota Rajan, dekkla baajan

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shaad, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Now is the right time to surrender all Hindutva don like Ravi Poojary, Vicky Shetty and other who posing as Hindu don. Modi govt will protect them and give nationalist title.
    This arrest was scripted to protect these Don.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amin Bhoja, Patte / Riyadh

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    He enjoyed his criminal life now let him enjoy the jail life...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Now take Sushma & Vasundhara in preventive custody ...

    DisAgree [15] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishnu, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    I have no clue why people get religion, politics, Communal ism in each and every news which is published. I mean what is the connection between Rajan getting arrested with making him eat BEEF. If he is a criminal then we too equally are by commenting such stupid arguments. I dont really understand what is the satisfaction you guys get. Its not necessary that you have to comment on each and everything, but for God's sake make some sense in your comments.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • SN, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Commenting is free, some people eat more when they get free food but it ends in indigestion

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalore Voice, mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Bada Rajan, Bannanje Rajan, Now Chota Rajan. Next Dawood Rajan.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalore Voice, mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Bada Rajan, Bannanje Rajan, Now Chota Rajan. Next Dawood Rajan.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • John dsouza, Udupi

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    If he would have arrested in karnataka,he may be allowed to go immediately under jail Bhagya..

    DisAgree [15] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • readerwriter007, pune

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    I was reading couple of articles floating since yesterday. Looks everything was known about this gentleman. Everything is articulated like, he was ... he was ... he is... then he .... then he ... now he was in... when everything was known why 2 decades to arrest such a criminal. that shows how our system is. Any ways, even I support to execute him as soon as they bring him to India. If trials runs for years, one day either he will escape or he will dead by the judgement time. Or system is so bad that it will take decades trialing small small crimes and here , it looks so many cases and hence will go on for years or decades... so, nothing doing, confirm the identity and "execute" him.... and click "NEXT"

    DisAgree [1] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Who is going to feed this SAAND ...

    DisAgree [13] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sompa, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Now he will Join RSS and serve the country.

    DisAgree [23] Agree [43] Reply Report Abuse

  • vas, udupi

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Terrorist joining Terrorists....

    DisAgree [15] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • stan, dubai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    When he was A petty criminal they kept his name as Chhota Rajan. When he is committing big criminal activities why they did not call him Bada Rajan?????

    DisAgree [8] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shivaprasad Shetty, Kateel / Dubai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    stan, dubai, he got Name as chota rajan because of Rajan who was famous as bada rajan.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rohan, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Chhota / Bada leave STAN bhai....but the real question arise is RAJAN is a native of Mandya in Karnataka.........lol

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Stan
    When this Chota Rajan started his activities, one Rajan Mahadev Nair, a dreaded underground criminal was already there in that area. The Rajan Nair was known as Bada Rajan and he was gunned down by one Safalika in Esplanade court in 1983. Hence, this Rajan got the Chota Rajan name permanently.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Salvador Periera , Mangalore/Dubai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Safe for him rest of the life, with government security,5 star treatment without maintaining his security or fear of being killed..

    Well planned. Have a happy retired life.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • guru, New Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    i am sure nothing is going to happen to him.. the people who has killed the prime minister still enjoy their life now.So what do u feel that something great is going to happen to him...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robin, Byndoor

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Why we have to meet him ????? After all is police allow us to meet him now. Anyway Dasara is over now. Let us ask our CM to bring him for the Inauguration of Next Dasara Kusti Competition...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinayak, Managalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Bring him to india and since all the murders are done by him, there should be no court or any delays. Hang him to death immediately as all the evidence are against him. If we use the rule of court, then he shall be old and will be having a natural death. I suppose he has had enough freedom and has enjoyed his life by shedding others blood and killing their happiness.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    We cant even serve him BEEF ...

    DisAgree [34] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse

  • Suleman Beary, Udupi

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    @ Jossey....
    "Comment of the day"

    DisAgree [27] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • dev, mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    people who are so much interested in feeding criminal can even feed pork biryani.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • dev, mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    can u feed him pork?

    DisAgree [17] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Dev, I would love to serve him Dog with your permission ...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • dev, mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    this confirms that u were even working in Philippines

    DisAgree [13] Agree [18] Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Will you please, both gentlemen, Dev and Jossey, pass on the recipes of Pork Biryani and Dog chilly to me ?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [21] Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Santan, Maneka will chase you out of the Country ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Santan, why do you want to annoy Maneka ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Report Abuse

  • MILAN, DXB

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    HE IS BIG. HOW HE BECAME CHOTA.

    HE LOOKS LIKE RAVI POOJARY. ARE THEY BOTH SAME PERSON.

    NOW SOME RSS PEOPLE WILL PRESSURIZE JUDICIARY TO GO SOFT ON RAJAN.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • MILAN, DXB

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    HOW IS INDONESIA. IS IT GOOD FOR HOLIDAY. IS IT BETTER THAN BANGALORE OR GOA.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian D'souza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Govt committed to get Dawood but his arch rival Rajan is caught.
    Now many comparisons will emerge between the gangsters as, nationalist, anti national and in religion lines.
    Whom should we patronage, to get killed, kidnapped and to get extortion calls?

    DisAgree [9] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Rajan, has done some good job by eliminating some of his folks responsible for Mumbai serial blasts.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • For Justice, Abu Dhabi / Ubar

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Both our FEKUMAHAARAJ's & this criminals history looks like same - POVERTY & ILLITERACY.

    One killed innocents for money & another for communal hatred.

    DisAgree [15] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    God says "Do not judge, you do not know what storm I have asked him to walk through."
    Don't judge someone just because they sin differently than you.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    What a Blunder.
    He is Motta Rajan ... lol

    DisAgree [14] Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • India, india

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Why media promoting this kind of peoples all india and abroad. stop this. do your duty.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bachu, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Chale te feku pakadne Bhai ko
    Leke aya iss chuye ki pille ko
    Mann ki baat mein sayad issi ko kidney donate keliye darkaast kar raha ta feku

    DisAgree [12] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gurukripa, Moodbodri

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Varadarajan is not from matunga area but from Antop Hill to Sion Koliwada. Rama Naik and Ashwin Naik are from Bycalla region. Ashwin still alive. Are also involved people from tulu Nadu.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Salvador Periera, Mangalore/Dubai

    Tue, Oct 27 2015

    Comedy, precisely patriotic criminal. Whom to support Patriotic or Criminal.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse


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