Mumbai, Aug. 12: Mumbai police have nabbed don Santosh Shetty, who was on the run for 12 years, in Bangkok.

Santosh Pandurang Shetty, alias Anna, was detained yesterday and deported to Mumbai today.

The 48-year-old don, a close aide of gangster Chhota Rajan, was wanted in several cases of murder, kidnapping and drug smuggling.

Shetty began his career in crime in 1988 with the smuggling of gold and narcotics, the police said.

The police alleged that Shetty had planned and executed the murder of lawyer Shahid Azmi in February last year. Azmi was defending Fahim Ansari, an accused in the 26/11 case.

Shetty killed his own associate Bharat Nepali in November last year, Himanshu Roy, the joint commissioner of police, said. “He is one of the biggest drug dealers in the country,” Roy added.

“It will send a clear signal to those gangsters holed up outside the country.… We will reach them,” Roy added.