Chhota Rajan taken into custody in J Dey case

Accused produced before court via video conferencing from Tihar jail in Delhi

A special MCOCA court situated inside the high security Arthur road jail on Thursday took deported underworld don Rajendra Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan into its custody in senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey murder case and posted the matter for framing of charges on Rajan on January 19.

Rajan was produced before the court via video conferencing from Tihar jail in Delhi and the MCOCA court in Mumbai took him into formal custody in the Dey case. The judge taking Rajan into its custody is a technical procedure which means that though Rajan will remain in Delhi he would be considered in MCOCA court’s custody as the trial judge cannot frame charges on him till he is taken into this court’s custody.

The court was informed that Rajan could not be physically produced before the court because he had moved an application in Delhi court saying he may not be sent to Mumbai as there is a threat to his life and a court in Delhi has passed an order not to take him outside Delhi.

Rajan was produced before the special judge A.L. Pansare through video conferencing at around 12.20 pm and the judge then asked him to identify himself to which he said, “My name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje.” When the judge asked him if he was aware with details of the case in which he was produced before the court, Rajan replied in the negative. The judge then explained the allegations to him and took Rajan into court’s custody. The entire conversation between court and Rajan went on in Marathi.

The MCOCA court has already passed an order saying that there is enough material available against Rajan — in chargesheet filed against co-accused — to conduct a joint trial against him with other accused. On Thursday the court was supposed to frame charges on Rajan but a copy of chargesheet could not be served to him in Delhi and hence the court adjourned the hearing till January 19, for framing of charges.

The court directed the special public prosecutor Dileep Shah to ensure that crime branch officers serve a copy of the chargesheet to Rajan in due course. According to sources the CBI would conduct further investigation in respect of Rajan in the Day case but since the matter is under MCOCA, the crime branch would conduct trial against other accused in the case.