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Cops may seek Interpol's help to extradite gangster Ravi Pujari [Mumbai] [Times of India](Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) MUMBAI: Mumbai police are preparing a dossier on fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari and plan to seek help from Interpol through the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to extradite him to India. Sources said there are unconfirmed reports of Pujari taking shelter in Australia but he has been using voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) routed through Iran, Russia and South Africa to send the investigative agencies off track. Sources said that a crime branch team is drawing up the proposal to be sent to the MEA to press for his extradition through Interpol under the Mutual Legal Assistance treaty (MLAT). There are around 52 offences registered all over India against Pujari, 33 of them in Mumbai alone. Most of the cases are of threatening, extortion, abusing and including 8 murders by firing and killing of security guards and other staffers of construction companies. Besides Mumbai, there are cases registered against him in his home town in Mangalore, Bangalore, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Ulhasnagar. Sources said that as most of the gangs viz Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, Hemant Pujari and Ejaz Lakhdawala have switched over from extortion to other businesses abroad, Pujari is trying to claim his supremacy. "This time we are pressing the MEA and other security agencies to track him down and get him deported him from whichever country he is - at the earliest. We are submitting a fresh proposal including a fresh Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Pujari," said Rakesh Maria, Mumbai police commissioner. "He has become a pest for businessmen, particularly Bollywood and construction companies. It's high time that the government built up international pressure to extradite him and put him behind bars," said a Bollywood personality on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, crime branch officials probing the firing on Karim Morani's bungalow recently are planning to issue the letter of Rogaratory (LR) through a local court to investigate Bittu Singh, a New Zersey based NRI and event organizer. LR is a request of legal assistance from one court to the court of another country. Sources said when gangster Ravi Pujari called the production company owned by Karim Morani recently, he threatened them to give Singh the rights for shows abroad by the cast of 'Happy New Year' to promote the movie. Last Saturday, a few shots were fired outside the Moranis' bungalow in Juhu, apparently to scare them. Since the calls started, the police have provided security to most of the stars of the new movie, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Boman Irani and Sonu Sood, among others. "As a precautionary step, almost all the actors of the movie have been provided security," said an officer. Meanwhile, the crime branch is also coordinating with the Mangalore police to track down a middle man from Udipi who is believed to be passing off information on possible targets and had coordinated the hiring of the shooters. At least six to seven former associates of Pujari, who are now out on bail, are being questioned at the crime branch's Bandra unit. Officials said despite several arrests, some people associated with Bollywood are still passing information to Pujari. In the past, Khar Gymkhana member Ravi Punjabi and a Chembur based builder Rakesh Sharma have been booked under the stringent act of MCOCA for aiding and abetting Pujari. What is MLAT? Mutual Legal Assistance treaty (MLAT) is a legal assistant is an agreement between two countries for the purpose of gathering and exchanging information in an effort to enforce public laws or criminal laws. Modern states have developed mechanisms for requesting and obtaining evidence for criminal investigations and prosecutions. When evidence or other forms of legal assistance, such as witness statements or the service of documents, are needed from a foreign sovereign, states may attempt to cooperate informally through their respective police agencies or, alternatively, resort to what is typically referred to as requests for "mutual legal assistance". (c) 2014 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited |