The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Mumbai gangster Chhota Rajan and three retired passport officials for illegalities in the issuance of an alleged fake passport to the gangster by the Bangalore regional passport office in 2003.
The passport had been issued in Rajan’s assumed name of Mohan Kumar on the basis of fabricated identity details and in violation of rules, said a CBI source. The passport with the number G 9273860 was made on the basis of another fake passport when Rajan was staying in Zimbabwe. The chargesheet named the three passport officials - Jayshree Rahate, Dipak Natwarlal Shah and Lalitha Lakshmanan - as accused in the case. The trio was charged for cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct.
According to sources, the chargesheet was submitted in a Delhi court, which took cognizance of the matter. Rajan alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje had used the fake passport to enter Australia in 2003 and then acquired a residency permit to stay there for 12 years until he went to Bali in Indonesia on October 25 last year, added the sources.
On his arrival in Bali, Rajan was arrested by the local immigration authorities on the basis of a pending Interpol Red Corner Notice against him and was subsequently deported to India on November 6 last year. The CBI had taken his custody in the passport case after the deportation.
{{/usCountry}}On his arrival in Bali, Rajan was arrested by the local immigration authorities on the basis of a pending Interpol Red Corner Notice against him and was subsequently deported to India on November 6 last year. The CBI had taken his custody in the passport case after the deportation.
{{/usCountry}}The chargesheet, however, did not mention whether the retired passport officials took any bribe to favour Rajan.