After a gap of 27 years, underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan who is in CBI custody  for 10 days since November 7, met his two sisters on Friday on Bhai Dooj at the agency’s headquarters following a Delhi court’s direction.

The sisters, Sunita Sakkharam Chavan and her elder sister Malini Sakpal, arrived at the CBI headquarters around 5 pm and were taken to the cell to meet the 55-year-old gangster for just 10 minutes, said sources, adding the two sisters hugged Rajan and wept while asking about his well-being.

Earlier in the day, the designated CBI court directed the probe agency to consider the plea of don’s sisters, who sought its permission to meet their brother currently in the CBI’s custody, on the occasion of Bhai Dooj on compassionate grounds, saying they have not met him for the past 27 years and wanted to bless him.

In the first week of this month, the CBI had got 10 days custody of Rajan in connection with an alleged fake passport case registered by the agency on October 31, shortly before its team left for Indonesia to deport him back.

During the hearing, which took place at the residence of Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar, the court asked Sunita and her elder sister Malini to approach the CBI’s investigating officer with their application.

Advocate Rajiv Jai, who appeared on behalf of sisters, said the court has asked the IO to consider the plea keeping in view the security concerns.

“The applicants pray that the applicants Sunita and her elder sister Malini may be allowed to meet their brother. That the applicants are physically unfit and may be escorted by their son-in-law Anil Menon for help,” said their application. Both the sisters in their application said they would not hinder the probe and abide by any condition imposed by the court.

“Allow the applicants to meet their brother who is in police custody (CBI) on compassionate grounds and allow them to follow rituals of Bhai Dooj subject to any conditions which the court may deem fit and proper in circumstances,” said the plea.

Rajan’s sisters’ plea further said, “The applicants have never met their brother for the last so many years and after so many years when he is in the country, they wish to bless him.”

The agency had registered a case against Rajan and unnamed officials for allegedly issuing a passport to him with a fake identity of Mohan Kumar in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare in 2003, where he was hiding after escaping from Bangkok following an attempt on his life in 2000 by Dawood Ibrahim’s hitmen.