Chhota Rajan's arrest will not be of much help, says former Mumbai police commissioner MN Singh

How important is Rajan's arrest?

I believe that Rajan is no longer the kind of force he earlier used to be. He is now old and sick, and his gang is also not that active. Hence, I don't see much help from his arrest just the fact that there are number of cases registered against him and he will stand trial for them. The existing organised crime can be brought under control by Mumbai police with his arrest. There were talks that Indian intelligence agencies were using him against Dawood, I can't independently confirm it as even i have just heard it. But if we believe that Rajan was not much useful in the past 20 years as his information has not taken us anywhere close to Dawood. So, even on that front I have my doubts that his arrest will be helpful.

With Rajan's arrest, do you think gang rivalries will come to an end?

Gang rivalry is a thing of the past. Earlier, there were gun battles on the streets but the Mumbai police managed to subdue it and deal with the gangs strongly. I am hoping that with Rajan's arrest we will be able to account for one gang at least and the Mumbai police will have control over organised crime.

Also read: Want Rajan to spill beans on gang's operations: Mumbai police​

With Rajan in, do you think Dawood will still be hard for us to get?

Getting Dawood back to India will not be easy at all. Dawood is protected by the Pakistan government and intelligence agency as he works for them. However, the Pakistan government has been on denial mode about him being in Pakistan. So, there is nothing India can do apart from putting pressure through diplomatic channels. We have been doing it all these years but have been unsuccessful.

Even the USA designated him as a wanted criminal and told Pakistan to hand him over to India. I think the only chance of getting Dawood will be when the Pakistan government feels that he has become a liability and they themselves shoot him down or hand him over to India.

There were talks about some Mumbai police officers working on the instructions of the underworld. Do you think that Rajan would provide information on this?

I believe that too much has been made out this, I have no reasons to doubt the integrity and honesty of Mumbai police. It is such a big force and there can be one or two officers who would have fallen prey to money. The gangsters work in a typical fashion they first bribe, then blackmail and if this doesn't work, they then threaten. Once an officer accepts the bribe, he becomes part of the cycle. Secondly, its not only policemen, there are film stars who had links with underworld and most importantly politicians too have close ties with them.

Do you see it as a genuine arrest or a proper planned move by the government of India?

Let me put it in this way, Rajan was not arrested by an Indian agency, he was arrested by Indonesia police with the help of Australian police. Hence, I think we have no role to play. He has been a wanted fugitive and his name has been on Interpol's wanted list. There can be a possibility that Rajan himself would have planned his arrest as he is sick and getting old.