Mumbai police on Saturday arrested a member of the Chhota Rajan gang, reportedly on the run for the past 28 years, from Surat (Gujarat) in connection with a 1994 robbery attempt case, an official said.
The accused, Sabir Barkatali Lakhani, 59, who resided in Antop Hill locality in the city, was arrested by the crime branch of Mumbai police, he said.
“In 1994, the accused, a member of the Chhota Rajan gang, along with four of his associates stormed into a real estate broker’s office at Sindhi Camp in Chembur carrying arms with the intention of committing robbery. During the incident, they also attacked an on-duty crime branch official,” police said.
A case was registered against the four under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 399 (making preparation to commit dacoity) and 307 (attempt to murder).
“The accused were later arrested and a local court sentenced them to five years in jail. Three of the arrested accused were killed in encounters with police, but two accused, including Lakhani, went absconding a year later in 1995. The court later issued a non-bailable warrant against them,” he said.
The crime branch recently received a tip-off that Lakhani was in Surat, he added.
“Accordingly, a trap was laid and Lakhani was nabbed on Saturday. A number of criminal cases are registered against him, including in Gujarat,” the official said, adding that investigation into the case was on.
Gangster Chhota Rajan is currently lodged at Delhi’s Tihar jail.
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