INDIAN MAFIA DON CHHOTA RAJAN`S HENCHMAN HELD IN VIETNAM

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Interpol dealt a crippling blow to the shadowy
operations of Indian mafia don Chhota Rajan when it nabbed his leading henchman
who spearheaded a cross-border extortion racket in Southeast Asian capitals.

A team of investigators, including Indian agents, picked up the suspect, a
former sharpshooter, in Hanoi, Vietnam this week.

According to the Asian Age, the thug, nicknamed 'Bunty Pandey', was alleged to
have been operating from Bangkok, Cambodia and Nepal.

He was wanted by Indian police for alleged involvement in more than a dozen
criminal cases.

The suspect was even accused of having blackmailed Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh
Khan after the release of his 2007-hit movie 'Om Shanti Om', demanding RM2
million (US$648,929) from the actor.

"Recently, his activities came to the notice of Vietnam security agencies which
later informed the Interpol headquarters.

"Subsequently, he was detained by agencies concerned in Vietnam and finally,
Indian agencies were informed of his detention, who then initiated the process
of Pandey's early deportation", reported the Asian Age, quoting unnamed police
sources in Delhi.

The paper said that the suspect was also tasked with eliminating Chhota Shakeel,
brother of another of India's top criminal Dawood Ibrahim, believed to be in
hiding in Karachi, Pakistan.
-- BERNAMA