According to police, the four contract killers were hired by Chhota Shakeel, Rajan's rival and a confidant to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. "An investigation is underway," Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep told PTI.
The four were arrested from their residences in Rohini, Seelampur, Ghaziabad and Noida after police tracked them down based on their interactions with Shakeel over the phone and on internet chats.
“The order was to kill Rajan’s driver first and then the jailed don. Rajan’s driver has been coming to Delhi since his boss was sent to Tihar. The plot was to target Rajan either during the time when he would be taken from Tihar jail to court or while returning to prison after a hearing,” an official told the Indian Express.
The Special Cell recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including a 9-mm pistol and at least two dozen live cartridges, which were allegedly procured to execute the plan. Police also found Rs 40,000 in cash on one of the accused. Their mobile phones have been seized and their voice recordings are likely to be sent to forensic laboratory for tests, the Indian Express reported.
Acting on a tip-off from Australian Federal Police, Rajan, 55, was arrested from Bali in Indonesia and brought to India in November last year. He was on the run for almost 27 years. He is now awaiting trial in more than 70 cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling.
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