Mumbai: Underworld Don Ravi Pujari Asks Court to Extend His Police Custody

Underworld don, Raviprakash Sulya Pujari alias Ravi Pujari, has requested the court to keep him in police custody, despite his own lawyers arguing that Pujari should not be sent back for police interrogation. 

Special Public Prosecutor, Sunil Gonsalves appeared for the state along with advocate Sachin Kadam from the Anti Extortion Cell of Mumbai, seeking an extension of Pujari’s custody. 

The recently apprehended underworld don was produced before Judge DE Kothalikar just prior to noon on Tuesday. The prosecution presented a report of the investigation to the court while pleading for more time to interrogate Pujari. 

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Arguing for Ravi Pujari, advocate M Manerkar said that enough opportunity was granted to the Investigation Officer, adding that there is no need to extend the police custody. However, while Manerkar was arguing the case for his client, Pujari stood up and said that he wanted to make a few submissions to the court. 

Pujari then said that he had no objections to the 5-day police custody requested by officials adding that he had certain information that he wants to share with the Investigation Officer. With this in mind, Judge Kothalikar extended Pujari’s custody until March 15.  

When the court previously asked about the treatment by the police, Pujari said that he had no complaints in this regard. 

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Pujari was brought to Mumbai from Bengaluru on Feb 22 in connection with a firing incident that occurred near suburban Vile Parle on October 21, 2016. The police have said that this was orchestrated by Pujari’s henchmen as a means of intimidating a restaurant owner in the area for money extortion. 

For over a year, Pujari was in the custody of the Bengaluru court while a red corner notice was issued way back in 2002 to bring back Pujari from Senegal, West Africa. Police officials have said that he has around 52 cases filed against him in the city of Mumbai.

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