Case papers relating to gangster Chhota Rajan go missing

Arrested gangster Chhota Rajan may be back in Delhi by the time you read this, but sources in Mumbai Police have told mid-day that papers pertaining to at least 10 important cases against him are missing.

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Chhota Rajan is escorted by police officers to the Bali airport to be deported to India. He is expected to arrive in New Delhi this morning. Pic/PTI

Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, has over 70 cases against him. Significantly, the Crime Branch started collating these case papers only after he was detained at Indonesia's Bali airport last week.

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Chhota Rajan escorted by police officers to Bali airport on Thursday to be deported to India. Pic/PTI

While a dossier was prepared, Crime Branch officials are still searching for some crucial case papers. Sources said several complainants and witnesses against Rajan in these cases are also untraceable.

A hunt is on to find these people as well. The cases against Rajan include murder, attempt to murder, extortion, etc. The first case against him was registered in 1978 at the Tilak Nagar police station.

"The most trusted senior inspectors of the Crime Branch and inspectors who were earlier in Crime Branch but are now posted in various police stations, were assembled as a team to put together all the case papers," said a senior Crime Branch official.

"The officers, who have good information on Rajan, worked day and night. But during the process, they found that the papers of over 10 cases were missing. The cases are all of a very serious nature. This also includes a very serious and notorious crime."

With the case being transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, Crime Branch officials are a worried lot. Had the transfer not happened, Mumbai Police could have kept the matter of the missing files under wraps.

But with the case being handed over to the CBI, they have to hand over all the papers to the central agency. Not doing so will result in serious loss of face.

"As the case has now been transferred to the CBI, Mumbai police will have to hand over all the documents of cases against Rajan," said a senior official. "If Mumbai Police fails to submit all case papers, serious questions will be raised. An inquiry will be initiated against the concerned police officers."

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Senior officials have summoned the concerned officers from the team, sources added. Another Crime Branch source said, "A high-level search operation has been initiated by the cops to find the missing papers. We just hope we find them soon and save our face.

However, it raises serious questions about security and how the case papers went missing in the first place. And it will be interesting to see if the papers are found at all."