Rajan associate surrenders before the court

Mumbai, Mar 13 (UNI) Vinod Asrani, a close associate of underworld don Chhota Rajan, surrendered before the MCOCA court today.

He was allegedly involved in an extortion case of 2005 at Chembur in eastern suburbs.

Police said Asrani alias Chembur was arrested earlier in the extortion case in which Sujata Nikhalji, wife of Chhota Rajan, his elder brother, a chartered accountant and two others were arrested. All the accused are presently in custody.

Asrani had moved an application in the Supreme Court, which had granted interim relief to him till disposal of his petition.

Recently, the Apex Court had rejected his petition and since then he was absconding.

After two weeks, he surrendered before MCOCA (Maharashtra Control for Organised Crime Act) Judge Abhay Thipsay, who is presiding over the case. The court remanded him to Judicial custody till March 20.

In November 2005, Ms Sujata and others were arrested by the Crime Branch on charges of demanding extortion money of Rs 10 lakh from a builder.

UNI