Gangster Chhota Rajan in Bali Police custody
Arrested gangster Chhota Rajan, likely to be brought back to India tonight, has alleged that "some in the Mumbai Police" have links with underworld don and terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.
"The Mumbai Police has done a lot of 'atyachar' (atrocities) on me...the government should look into that. Some in the Mumbai Police are mixed up with Dawood," Rajan, in orange prison uniform and cuffs, said to Indian reporters in Bali's Denpasar.
Asked whether he was afraid of returning to Mumbai and preferred to be taken to Delhi, Rajan replied: "I am not afraid of Dawood. All my life I have fought against terror and will keep fighting against Dawood and terror."
He added: "I will go wherever the government will take me. I just want justice."
The remarks come amid reports that security agencies are not comfortable with the Mumbai Police handling Rajan.
The 55-year-old gangster faces over 70 cases of murder, extortion and drug trafficking just in Mumbai. Since an Interpol notice against him in 1995, he had evaded the police in many countries until October 25, when he was arrested in Bali as he stepped off a flight from Sydney using an assumed name "Mohan Kumar".
It was speculated over the years that Rajan was "in touch" with Indian security agencies and involved in the killing of "anti-Pakistan elements" and also countering Dawood Ibrahim, his former boss turned enemy.
Rajan and Dawood were close aides until they fell out after the 1993 Mumbai blasts, which Dawood was accused of masterminding. Since then, there have been several attempts on Rajan's life by Dawood's gang-members.
Dawood Ibrahim is believed to be in Pakistan's Karachi, where his security was allegedly increased after Rajan's arrest.
Reports have suggested Rajan's arrest was a part of his secret deal with Indian security agencies; the gangster is believed to have sought help as over the years, his network has been weakened considerably and the threat from Dawood Ibrahim has remained unabated.