Underworld Don Chhota Rajan who was arrested in Bali in Indonesia was deported to India and he is expected to reach Delhi on Friday morning. 27 years after he had fled from India in the face of many cases in extortion, murder and drug smuggling against him. Chhota Rajan was arrested in Bali when he was returning from Australia on October 25. He took off from the Ngurah Rai International at 10:15 PM.

His exile was postponed as the international airport in Bali was shut down due to the emission of volcanic ash from a nearby mountain. India was keen that the exile takes place at the earliest and had put in a request to Indonesian authorities immediately after his arrest, the sources said. Later after the authorities declared the airport open, the Indian team comprising CBI, Delhi and Mumbai police officials began the process of deportation of 55-year-old Rajan, who had fled from India in 1988 for Dubai.

Sources privy to the developments said Rajan has to undergo a mandatory health check-up before he would emplane a special aircraft for Delhi. Ahead of his arrival in India, Maharashtra government made a surprise announcement of handing over all the cases related to the underworld don to the CBI as the agency had expertise in handling such cases.

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Gurjit Singh tweeted: “#ChotaRajan deported successfully to India. Delay due to Bali airport closure ends. Thanks Indonesia for support.” Rajan after his arrest had expressed and urged to shift him to Mumbai Jail, fearing that he has a threat from the India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. In 2000, there was an attempt on Rajan’s life when Dawood’s men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed a dramatic escape by jumping from the first floor of the hotel.

Mumbai police are also keen to question Rajan, but it is unlikely that he would be handed over to CBI, the sources said, adding the custody will be given to Special Cell of Delhi police for some time for being interrogated. Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, is wanted in over 75 crimes ranging from murder, extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking.

Mumbai police filed four cases under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, one under Prevention of Terrorism Act and over 20 cases under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act. Delhi police also filed six cases against Rajan.