Mumbai: A witness being examined in court where a recorded telephonic conversation involving him was played identified the other person in the recording as jailed gangster Chhota Rajan. Real estate broker Manoj Shivdasani told the court during a hearing in the J. Dey murder trial on Wednesday that Rajan had called to check on the health of Vinod Asrani, an accused in the case who is now dead.
While Rajan does not name the deceased in the conversation with Mr. Shivdasani, he says, “ Woh toh saamne ke liye kaam karta tha, Dawood ke liye, ISI ke liye ”. (He was working for the other gang, for Dawood and ISI)”.
Rajan names former journalist Jigna Vora, saying, “ Woh kaafi log matlab iske against the.Woh Jigna Vora ghadi ghadi bolti thi, woh aisa hai waisa hai matlab saamnewale ke touch me hai na (a lot of people were against him. That Jigna Vora also told me frequently that he was like this and that, was in touch with people on the other side)
Ms. Vora was named an accused in a charge sheet filed by the Mumbai Police and the CBI, who relied on a witness’ statement that Ms. Vora informed Rajan about Dey’s whereabouts, his bike number, office and residential addresses. Rajan, 59, is facing approximately 71 cases in Maharashtra, including the J. Dey murder. Dey was shot dead in Powai in 2011, allegedly at Rajan’s behest.
Rajan also mentions Dey calling him while in London. “ Woh sab tha usme toh koi doubt nahi, matlab woh London gaya fir mereko bula raha tha (It was all there and there is no doubt about it. He had gone to London and was calling me).” The conversation also mentions that Dey asked him to come to the Philippines. Shivdasani’s cross examination will continue tomorrow.
