Chhota Rajan has been facing trial in cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling.
Gangster Chhota Rajan has today been convicted in the sensational murder case of Mumbai-based veteran crime journalist J Dey. The police said Chhota Rajan had ordered the killing, irked by his portrayal as a small-time crook in a book the journalist was planning to write. The police said that Chhota Rajan, had hired a contract killer for Rs 5 lakh to kill journalist J Dey.
- 57-year-old Chhota Rajan's real name is Rajendra S Nikhalje.
- As a teenager, Chhota Rajan used to sell movie tickets in the black market, and was regarded a petty criminal.
- He then worked for gangster Rajan Mahadev Nair alias 'Bada Rajan' in 1982. After 'Bada Rajan' was shot dead, Chhota Rajan took over the gang.
- In 1984, Chhota Rajan started to work for Dawood Ibrahim, who was an established gold smuggler by then. From 1984 to 1993, the Rajan-Dawood were considered a deadly combination in Mumbai's underworld.
- The duo split after the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, and formed an independent gang that frequently clashed with Dawood's D-Company.
- In 1998, Chhota Rajan and his gang members killed Mirza Dilshad Beg, a Nepali parliamentarian, who had alleged links to Dawood Ibrahim.
- Chhota Rajan has been facing trial in over 70 cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling.
- In November 2015, Chhota Rajan was deported from Indonesia's Bali and was made an accused in journalist J dey murder case. He is currently in Delhi's Tihar Jail.
- Chhota Rajan is married to Sujata Nikalje and the couple has three daughters.
- Chhota Rajan has provided key inputs to Indian police and security agencies on Dawood Ibrahim's whereabouts in the past few years.
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