If Indian media reports are to be believed, fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan is in a Singapore hospital battling for his life. Mumbai Mirror reported that the 59-year-old is critically ill after his blood pressure shot up during a routine dialysis procedure.
The Daily Bhaskar also reported that he is in a Singapore hospital. However, the Mumbai Mirror's parent paper had earlier reported that the notorious gangster was in a Malaysian hospital.
Rajan, according to the paper, has been living in South-east Asia ever since he parted ways with another underworld figure, Dawood Ibrahim, in the 1990s. He survived a bid on his life in Bangkok in September 2000. He sustained multiple bullet injuries and never regained full fitness.
"He was admitted to the hospital for dialysis last week," a source told Mumbai Mirror on condition of anonymity. "He was shifted to the intensive care unit after his condition worsened, and he is critical now. His blood pressure shot up during dialysis and doctors could not stabilise him."
When Mumbai Mirror contacted Mr J.G. Bhanushali, who is representing Rajan's wife Sujata in some criminal cases, he claimed he was not aware of any such developments. He said he speaks to her only when they meet during court hearings.
Rajan is wanted in criminal cases involving murder, extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking in India. He is wanted by the Indian police for 17 murder cases and several murder attempts, according to Indian media.
Rajan separated from Dawood's gang after the Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993. He moved his base from Dubai to Bangkok. It is said that Chota Shakeel, who took over as Dawood's No. 2, tracked Rajan down and a team of gunmen stormed his Bangkok home. Rajan, who took multiple hits, escaped by jumping off a first floor window. He was admitted to a hospital from where he escaped.
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