Wanted since 2012, suspected Chhota Rajan aide held

The city crime branch sleuths on Saturday arrested a man allegedly associated with the Chhota Rajan gang. The arrestee, Vijay alias Raju Mahadik, has several criminal cases registered against him, including extortion, threatening and robbery. Vijay had been on the run since 2012 and was wanted by the police in an attempt to commit robbery case.

In August 2012, on receipt of some specific information, the crime branch officers nabbed three persons – Navnath Gurav, Rajesh Bhalerao and Mohsin Sheikh – in Andheri, while they were about to rob a businessman. Mahadik and his associate Bablu managed to flee from the spot at the time. The police had also seized a country-made pistol, a live cartridge, chopper, chilli powder and rope from their possession.

"Mahadik had been on the run since 2012 and efforts were on to trace him. He is a close aide of gangster Chhota Rajan and has been involved in extortion, threatening and robbery cases. He will be in the police custody till Thursday," said a crime branch officer, requesting anonymity.