The Mumbai Crime Branch has deported gangster Prasad Pujari, and he will be brought to Mumbai by midnight from China, news agency ANI reported on Friday.
In 2020, the Mumbai police's crime branch arrested Pujari's mother for her alleged involvement in the extortion of a builder from the eastern suburb of Vikhroli in Mumbai, news agency PTI reported, citing an official. Indira Vitthal Pujari (62) was arrested in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act case for allegedly extorting Rs 10 lakh from a developer, he had stated.
According to PTI, the complainant had allegedly received threatening calls from Pujari through WhatsApp and BOTIM, an internet-based video call app in January and February, he said.
Pujari, who is currently at an unidentified location abroad, demanded Rs 10 lakh from the builder, the official said. The developer subsequently lodged a complaint with the Anti-Extortion Cell, following which a case under the stringent MCOCA was registered in February.
According to an official, the AEC had arrested eight people, including Pujari's aide Sunil Angane and his cousin Suresh Kumar Suvarna, for their involvement. During interrogation, it came to light that Pujari's mother had given the extorted sum to deposit in the bank accounts of the arrested accused, he said.
ALSO READ: Tobacco Ban: Delhi High Court Asks FSSAI To Decide On Issue Expeditiously
The gangster is a former member of deported gangster Kumar Pillai. According to a Times Now report, he had married a Chinese national.
As per TOI, Pujari was arrested when he was about to take a flight with his wife from Hong Kong. He was wanted since past 20 years for his involvement several murder and extortion cases. Pujari was arrested in March last year in Hong Kong on Interpol's notice, as per the Times Now report.