Underworld don’s custody proceedings were conducted through video conferencing from Tihar Jail

The judicial custody of underworld don Chhota Rajan, who was arrested by CBI in an alleged fake passport case, was extended till December 15 by a Delhi court on Thursday.

Mr. Rajan was produced before special CBI judge Vinod Kumar through video conferencing from Tihar jail during a closed-door proceeding.

He was not produced physically in the court after the CBI had moved an application saying there was serious threat perception to Mr. Rajan from his rivals, and that it would be “extremely unsafe” to produce him in open court.

Deported after being on the run for 27 years, the 55-year-old gangster, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, was sent to high-security Tihar prison in judicial custody on November 19.

Rajan, once a close aide of fugitive terrorist and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, has been brought to the country to face trial in over 70 cases of murder, extortion and drug smuggling in Delhi and Mumbai.

After his arrest in Bali on October 25, India had pressed for his early deportation.