‘Rajan was an asset of RAW’

Mafia don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, alias Chhota Rajan was allegedly never on the run.

“He was an asset of India’s premier external spy agency — the Research & Analysis Wing — for information on his one time mentor-turned-arch rival Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar till recently. Assets get shelter and logistic support in the form of funds and fake passports on which they travel,” said a top intelligence source.

“Rajan was reeled in by the R&AW after the famous split between him and Dawood, soon after the 1993 Mumbai blasts and was a very useful asset for them. Rajan has a lot of useful information on how Dawood operates through his proxies; his recruitment and reach in India and overseas.” said the source.

He also added that his “arrest,” on the basis of an Interpol Red Corner notice, was staged. Rajan turned in on health grounds and in the wake of the mounting threat to his life from Chota Shakeel — gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s right hand man. He will be brought to India and tried in the multiple cases, which are against him.

When intelligence assets run out of utility, they are either eliminated or made to turn in. Rajan was lucky, the source said.