Sources believe ageing gangster may have plotted the shootout as a desperate attempt to seize a lion's claim of the underworld pie

In the aftermath of the shootout in Bhendi Bazaar, police officials are beginning to suspect that ageing don Chhota Rajan is making an effort to muscle his way back into Mumbai's underworld. Sources informed what Rajan did what very few gangsters would attempt-take on the might of the D Company. So far Rajan has not come out openly to claim the attack on his former mentor Dawood Ibrahim's stronghold, killing Iqbal Kaskar's bodyguard Arif. He was careful to spare the life of Dawood's sibling Iqbal, fearing a serious backlash. "The Rajan angle is being investigated with seriousness," said Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Himanshu Roy.


Bitter rivals: Don Chhota Rajan (left) says that he does not have the
power and clout of rival Dawood Ibrahim, but he loves his country.
People who work against the country are his enemies. File Pics

Rajan on the other hand told MiD DAY that he does not have the power and clout of rival Dawood, but he loves his country. People who work against the country are his enemies. "I was provided with a chauffeur-driven car and a villa in Dubai. Mere bhi izzat thi. But I gave away every thing after the 1993 blast. I worked for the Indian Intelligence, but that was something of the past. Ab to dukh mein sukh mana rahe hain," lamented Rajan. Observers say Rajan, who is ageing, is getting restive. He is burned with overseas expenses and there is very little protection money generated by his depleted gang members.

The involvement of a Nepali shooter Indralal Khatri points to the fact that Rajan is now backing on his reserves in Kathmandu to relaunch himself in the upper echelon of Mumbai's underworld. Rajan's slain lieutenant Farid Tanashah had trained dozens of shooters in the Himalayan kingdom to work for him. The Nepali shooters were effectively used earlier in bumping off Sharad Shetty, Mirza Dilshad Baig and two more key targets in Karachi in the past few months. "But stirring the Hornet's nest by opening fire at Iqbal's residence is a claer sign of desperation. It is like sending the message that I am still active," added a source.

His aide Umed-ur-Rehman is believed to be the point man for Mumbai operations. Police believe after three years Umed himself is trying to carve a niche for himself in the underworld. Rajan's men have already become active in the northern suburbs of Mumbai. A team of gangsters headed by one Naidu from Dharavi is fanning into the northern suburbs like Mira Road and Bhayander in the past few days. Police sources said one of the reasons why Kaskar's life was spared was because of their earlier association. Rajan was part of D Company until he broke away in 1993.

Rajan has deep knowledge of the working of the D Company, as much as his rival Chhota Shakeel has about his networks and associates. Dawood probably is far too busy to get involved in the day-to-day operations of the gang in Mumbai. The other reasons of his desperation could be because most of the construction works
in north Mumbai and Navi Mumbai--his strongholds--have already been completed. He is now looking for greener pastures like SOBO and Borivali-Virar belt. The firing on Kaskar's residence is seeking mileage from the incident.

He is also putting the Dawood siblings in Mumbai under continuous police surveillance, something which most gangsters would want to stay away from. Kaskar is positioned around the real estate in South Mumbai, especially in Dongri-Nagpada-Agripada belt, which is undergoing a complete makeover. Rajan could be eyeing a slice by sending message to builders in the area, many known to him.