Ramdas Athawale, leader of Republican Party of India (RPI) on Friday gave caste undertones to Mumbai's underworld don Chhota Rajan's arrest.

He asked why Dawood Ibrahim was still not nabbed and asked whether Chhota Rajan was arrested because he was a Dalit. "Chhota Rajan did nothing against the nation yet he got arrested. However, Dawood is still free. Is it only because he is a Dalit?," he asked.

He said that India had enough information on Dawood Ibrahim. "Not against Rajan's arrest but Dawood has committed more serious crimes. India has not been able to nab him despite information available with them.

Chhota Rajan aka Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje was arrested after arriving at Bali's airport from Sydney, based on a red notice from Interpol and following a tip from Australian authorities in Canberra. Rajan's younger brother, Deepak Nikalje, is Maharashtra Vice President of Republican Party of India (RPI). He had lost two consecutive assembly elections from Chembur.

Born in Mumbai, Rajan is wanted for multiple charges including murder and possession and use of illegal firearms. In 2000, there was an attempt on his life when Dawood Ibrahim's men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed to escape through the hotel's roof.