The CBI has taken over all the 71 cases against underworld don Chhota Rajan from the Maharashtra Police.
The State Government had sought transfer of these cases to the CBI saying the Central investigation has expertise in handling investigation of inter-State and transnational crimes. The State Government had communicated the decision soon after the underworld don was deported to India from Indonesia earlier this month.
CBI sources said the cases were taken over following a notification to the effect from Department of Personnel and Training that took the initiative after receiving a request from the State Government.
Meanwhile, a court here sent Rajan to 14-day judicial custody in a fake passport case. Rajan’s police custosy ended on Thursday. He was under CBI custody for the last 13 days. The don will be lodged in high security Tihar jail here.
The 55-year-old don was arrested at Bali International Airport on October 25 and deported to India on November 5. Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje, faces 71 cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling lodged in Mumbai besides and six cases with the Delhi Police.
The CBI has registered two cases against him for allegedly obtaining two passports based on fake documents. The don who evaded law enforcement agencies for the last 27 years has an extensive network of regular and illicit businesses in South East Asia and a few countries in Africa and is considered a prize catch since the agencies have extracted crucial information involving the existing nexus within the underworld.