Story of Underworld Don: That underworld don of the country, whose story creates no less suspense and thriller than the hero of any Hollywood or Bollywood movie. The don who dodged death not once but dozens of times. The don who, through some trick or the other, used to escape from the clutches of the police and investigative agencies every time. How did that don get caught because of one phone call? How did the person who always used to call from VIP number get trapped in the WhatsApp call scam and arrested? How did the don who got bail from the court in the murder case get entangled in other cases of ransom, extortion and murder? Know the story of that ‘Immortal Don’ and who sympathizes with him? Where is that Don now and in what condition?
In the underworld world where enmity means death, there is one name which has kept dodging death again and again. Find out the real name of that don is Rajendra Sadashiv, who is known as Chhota Rajan in India. Today, even at the age of 68, this don is breathing in the high-security barrack of Tihar Jail. But his life is full of rumors of death. There were reports of deaths dozens of times. Sometimes there was news of being shot in Dubai, sometimes of heart attack in Bangkok and of death in Delhi’s AIIMS during the Corona period of 2021. Every time he came back, as if even death was afraid of him.
In the underworld where enmity means death.
The underworld don who was attacked many times
But the question remains the same that how Chhota Rajan was trapped by the Indian investigative agencies? Emerging from the streets of Mumbai’s Tilak Nagar, Chhota Rajan entered the underworld in the 1980s. Initially Dawood became a part of Ibrahim’s D-Company. FIR was registered against Chhota Rajan in many cases like smuggling, extortion and extortion against the film industry. But everything changed after the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Rajan rebelled when Dawood fled to Pakistan. By becoming a ‘Hindu Don’ he became a staunch enemy of Dawood.
Bloody gang war on the streets of Mumbai in the 90s
In the 90s, a bloody gang war broke out on the streets of Mumbai. Rajan’s gang killed many of Dawood’s henchmen, while Dawood organized many attacks on Rajan. Dozens of cases of murder, extortion and drug trafficking had been registered against Rajan. Left India in 1998 and wandered to Dubai, then Bangkok, Australia. But Indian agencies kept chasing.
How many times was Chhota Rajan attacked?
How did he come into the clutches of Indian agencies?
On October 25, 2015, Chhota Rajan, who had arrived at Bali Airport in Indonesia under the name ‘Mohan Kumar’, arrived on a flight from Australia. He made a mistake at the immigration counter. He revealed his real name as Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje. This was probably code for coming to India, but was caught already. Indonesian police detained him on a tip from Australian intelligence. CBI and Interpol had issued Red Corner Notice for years. The then Home Minister Rajnath Singh called it a ‘major success’. He was brought to Delhi on 6 November by Indian Air Force jet. Rajan kissed the ground as soon as he landed at the airport. It was said, a gesture of patriotism. Investigative agencies believe that Rajan sometimes passed on information about Dawood to Indian intelligence, but his long list of crimes did not spare him.
Who sympathizes with Chhota Rajan?
After the arrest of Chhota Rajan, 71 cases against him from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai Police, were transferred to CBI. Therefore, Rajan was kept in the high-security barrack Tihar Jail No. 2 of Delhi instead of Mumbai. Where even today ITBP and CRPF keep an eye on it 24 hours. It is said that he has got this security to protect him from Dawood’s henchmen. Even today Rajan has got a separate cook and a separate warden in Tihar. After the poison threat in 2019, Chhota Rajan’s security has been further tightened. For the first time in April 2024, his photo was released from jail, in which he appeared healthy. Went to AIIMS for sinus surgery in January 2025, but like during the Corona period, rumors started flying again. But this time too the news of his death remained a rumour.
In which jail is Chhota Rajan lodged?
Chhota Rajan is still alive, but is imprisoned in the jail bars. Even today, the story of this 68 year old don sitting in the cell of Tihar is not over. The eyes of the Supreme Court, the investigation of CBI and the shadow of Dawood are still looming over Chhota Rajan. He would hardly ever return to the underworld, but the story of this crime legend still gives shivers on the cold nights of Mumbai.
