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J Dey Murder Case: Chhota Rajan Produced Before MCOCA Court Via Video Conference

Chhota Rajan Produced Before MCOCA Court In J Dey Muder Case Via Video Conference
Indian national Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, 55, known in India as Chhota Rajan, is brought out from a holding cell at the Bali police headquarters in Denpasar on Bali island on November 2, 2015. An alleged Indian crime boss wanted in his home country for up to 20 murders has been arrested in Indonesia after two decades on the run, police said October 26. Nikalje had been evading police in several countries for years, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images)
SONNY TUMBELAKA via Getty Images
Indian national Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, 55, known in India as Chhota Rajan, is brought out from a holding cell at the Bali police headquarters in Denpasar on Bali island on November 2, 2015. An alleged Indian crime boss wanted in his home country for up to 20 murders has been arrested in Indonesia after two decades on the run, police said October 26. Nikalje had been evading police in several countries for years, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA (Photo credit should read SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images)

MUMBAI -- Deported gangster Chhota Rajan was today produced before a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court via video conference from Tihar Jail in connection with journalist J Dey murder case of 2011.

Special Judge A L Pansare, on 22 December, had issued a production warrant against the 54-year-old asking him to appear before it on 7 January.

When asked to spell out his name, Rajan told the judge, "My name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje."

Judge Pansare then explained the J Dey case to him and later took him into custody. The entire conversation between Rajan and the judge went on in Marathi.

"The court told him that the next date of the case is 19 January, when charges will be framed against him," Special Public Prosecutor Dileep Shah told PTI.

Rajan also told the court that he doesn't have any lawyer in Mumbai and is looking for one.

Earlier in the day, CBI produced an order from a Delhi court which had directed the Tihar authorities to produce Rajan via video link.

"Rajan had moved an application in Delhi court saying that he may not be sent to Mumbai as there is threat to his life," said a CBI official.

CBI also sought the permission of the court to carry out further investigation in the case, which was allowed.

However, Judge Pansare was quick to add and ask the CBI counsel that since Bombay High Court has expedited the case, "is it not advisable to approach the HC and get an appropriate modified order."

The judge also reprimanded the Mumbai Police for not serving the copy of the chargesheet to Rajan.

"Why not yet ? What are you waiting for....why are you waiting for an order for everything ? the judge said.

Later, he passed an order directing the police to serve the copy of chargesheet.

Rajan, a former key aide and lieutenant of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on 25 October after he arrived from Australia, and was later deported to India.

He is facing around 70 cases in Maharashtra, which includes the J Dey murder case. Maharashtra government has handed over all the cases against him to CBI.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.