Don't need formal extradition treaty to bring back Chhota Rajan, says MEA

New Delhi: India on Monday said there are many arrangements to bring back underworld don Chhota Rajan, who has been arrested in Indonesia, in the absence of an extradition treaty with that country. “We don’t need to have a formal extradition treaty for somebody to be extradited to another country. There are various others means and arrangements in today’s days and age…. and it has happened before,” Secretary (East) in External Affairs Ministry Anil Wadhwa told reporters in New Dehi. [caption id=“attachment_2483498” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Chhota Rajan. Reuters[/caption] Though India and Indonesia signed the extradition treaty in 2011 but Indonesia has not ratified the pact so far. Wadhwa added that India and Indonesia have to exchange letters ratifying the treaty for the extradition pact to come into force and this is expected to take place during the upcoming visit of Vice President M Hamid Ansari to Indonesia next week. Ansari will embark on a visit to Indonesia and Brunei from 1 November to 6 November. Asked whether the ministry had sought any report on Rajan’s arrest, Wadhwa said this is an issue on which India, Indonesia and Australia are in touch with, and the issue is handled through Interpol. “There are no further details which are required at the moment because action is being taken as was anticipated so far,” he said, adding if there is a requirement, government would act accordingly. Rajan was arrested after arriving at Bali’s airport from Sydney, based on a red notice from Interpol and following a tip from Australian authorities in Canberra. Born in Mumbai, Rajan is wanted for multiple charges including murder and possession and use of illegal firearms. In 2000, there was an attempt on his life when Dawood’s men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed to escape through the hotel’s roof. PTI