Mumbai Police Arrest Close Associate of Gangster Chhota Rajan After 32 Years on the Run
Mumbai, 3rd January 2025: A close associate of notorious gangster Chhota Rajan, who was wanted for multiple crimes including murder, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms, has been apprehended by Mumbai Police.
The suspect, Raju Vikanya alias Vilas Balram Pawar, had been evading capture for 32 years. Authorities were tipped off about his whereabouts, and he was located in the Chembur area of Mumbai on Thursday. Following this, the police promptly arrested him.
Pawar faces numerous charges, including murder, kidnapping for ransom, and weapons offences, with cases registered against him at various police stations across Mumbai. He is scheduled to appear before a sessions court in the city.
In a separate case, in October, Chhota Rajan was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in the 2001 Jaya Shetty murder case after being sentenced to life imprisonment. The court set his bail at ₹1 lakh.
Furthermore, in 2023, a special CBI court cleared Rajan of involvement in the murder of trade union leader Dr Datta Samant in 1997. However, Rajan is unlikely to be released soon, as he faces trial in several other cases in multiple cities.
