Chhota Rajan aide allegedly slapped photographer for taking his picture

Mumbai: Looks can be deceptive. Hair trimmed short and dressed in a black suit, underworld don Chhota Rajan's aide D K Rao appeared as a thorough gentlemen to onlookers when he visited Chembur's Tilak Nagar Ganpati on Tuesday night. But his actions spoke otherwise.

The gangster allegedly slapped a photographer appointed by the Sahyadri Krida Mandal, the organisers of the Ganeshotsav at Tilak Nagar, only because he tried to click his pictures.

With a convoy of 35 bodyguards and a dozen jeeps and bikes, Rao made a grand entry at the Chembur mandal, known for its association with the Rajan gang, at 8.30 pm on Tuesday. For the 15 minutes that Rao spent in Tilak Nagar it appeared like the area was under curfew, said locals.

Bullied devotees
The Rajan aide came to the mandal in a chauffeur-driven car, which was parked 50 metres from the VIP gate. Before Rao stepped out, his men stopped people standing in queue for darshan from entering the pandal and those inside were asked to leave immediately, said an eyewitness, who stealthily recorded a video clip of the drama created by Rao and his henchmen on a handycam.

Mistaken identity?
"Rao got out of the car and entered the pandal, while some of his bodyguards stood outside stopping devotees from making an entry. However, a photographer and a videographer appointed by the mandal followed Rao.

While his aides stopped the cameraman from shooting, the photographer decided to click a few pictures. But as soon as he got his camera out, the gangster held his hand and slapped him," said the eyewitness. "The mandal organisers came to the photographer's rescue and told an angry Rao that he was a part of the mandal and was not from the media."

Rao then prayed to the Ganesh idol along with his aides, performed aarti, accepted prasad from the pandit and left.

Organiser unaware
The mandal organisers confirmed that Rao had visited Tilak Nagar for darshan, but were mum about the incident. Ashok Satardekar, organiser, Sahyadri Krida Mandal, said, "Yes, Rao paid a visit on Tuesday, but I was not present then. There are thousands of people who come to our pandal for darshan, but I cannot keep a track of everyone."   

On Gokulashtami earlier this month, Rao had made his first public appearance at a Worli mandal, after he was acquitted in January by a special MCOCA court in an extortion case.