DENPASER BALI: Indian fugitive Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, known in India as “Chotta Rajan,” left, is escorted by plain-clothed police officers for questioning in Bali yesterday. — AP

BALI, Indonesia: An alleged Indian crime boss arrested upon arrival on the Indonesian island of Bali last month was to be deported yesterday, police said.

Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, known in India as "Chotta Rajan," has been on Interpol's most wanted list for two decades. He was arrested Oct 25 when he arrived at Bali's airport from Sydney.

Police Maj. Pande Sugiarta said preparations were underway to deport Nikalje to India later in the day. He said Nikalje "will be tightly guarded by local police as well as by India's Central Bureau of Investigation."

Nikalje, who was carrying a passport with the alias Mohan Kumar, was arrested based on a notice from Interpol and following a tip from Australian authorities in Canberra, police said.

Nikalje, 56, told Indonesian police that he had been hiding in Australia for seven years and flew to Bali for a vacation. Indian Interpol officials accompanied by diplomats from India's Consulate in Denpasar investigated Nikalje and arranged his deportation.

Indian media have reported that Nikalje was accused of involvement in several mafia killings and other crimes in his homeland. Bali police spokesman Col. Heri Wiyanto said Nikalje had refused to answer all questions about his alleged crimes.

"There are no administrative problems now. We have prepared everything (for his deportation)," Bali police spokesman Hery Wiyanto said, adding he would be flown back to India late yesterday.

Rajan, 55, had been living incognito in Australia, but fearing his enemies would find him, was able to fly to Bali where he was arrested without resistance, according to news reports.

India's national security adviser devised a plan to secure the arrest of Rajan as part of a strategy to hunt down India's most-wanted man, Dawood Ibrahim, Indian police and ministry sources told Reuters. The two are believed to have worked together.

Ibrahim is accused of masterminding a dozen bombings and grenade attacks in Mumbai in March 1993, killing 257 people and wounding more than 700 in the deadliest such attack in the nation's history. - Agencies