DK Rao: Gangster with a Reputation

The Mumbai police on January 24 arrested a gangster with a reputation for ruthlessness and survivability in the underworld. From the 1990s onwards DK Rao, one of the closest associates of Chhota Rajan, has been a regular in the annals of organised crime in the city. It is not the first time that he has seen the  insides of a jail. In fact, he has been suspected of committing sensational crimes from within it.  Like in 2002, he had been in Arthur Road prison when Rajan had an issue with another one of his close associates OP Singh. Singh, who was incarcerated in Nashik jail,  was said to be embezzling from Rajan and looking to split himself away. When the underworld don, who was based abroad then, came to know of it, he wanted Singh dead. It is alleged that Rao and a group belonging to the Rajan gang got themselves transferred to the other jail and strangled Singh there.

Another story around Rao is that the the police cornered him in an encounter once and even thought they had shot him dead. Four others along with him were killed. But he managed to save himself by pretending to be dead.  He also survived the long war between the Chhota Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim gangs going back over three decades, with he himself leading attacks on many of Dawood’s men.

The present case in which he has been arrested is related to extortion, a crime he specialises in. A restaurant owner had a fallout with a partner who was trying to cheat him off his property. Rajan is alleged to have stepped in to mediate for the opposite party, tried to force a settlement and also extort  money for himself. The restaurant owner was told he would be killed if the demands were not met. He complained to the police. The only surprise was in how quickly they managed to get Rao.

Chances are Rao will be incarcerated for a  little while and once again come out. He did one long stint in jail but has been in and out since the last decade. He has more than 40 criminal cases against him but, as with most that involve such high ranking gangsters, witnesses turn hostile in courts which have no option but to release them.

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