21-year-old held for aiding extortion racket

He would directly pass on information of Mumbai-based businessmen to Ravi Pujari

January 17, 2019 01:10 am | Updated 01:15 am IST - Mumbai

The Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested an alleged aide of wanted fugitive Ravi Pujari, who would allegedly pass on contact details and other information of Mumbai-based businessmen to his boss, so they could be extorted.

As per AEC officials, investigations were initiated earlier this month after a Goregaon-based businessman registered a complaint.

“The complainant told us that he started getting calls from Mr. Pujari in December last year. Mr. Pujari would threaten to kill him unless he came up with ₹2 crore, but the complainant did not take him seriously. Thereafter, the complainant’s wife and other relatives, too, started getting calls,” a Crime Branch officer said.

The complainant finally became concerned when his nephew, who returned after studying abroad earlier this month, started getting calls.

“As very few people had the nephew’s Indian number, which was recently activated, the complainant became scared that his movements were being watched closely and registered a complaint,” the officer said.

The AEC started checking on the movements of repeat offenders with a history of working for organised crime gangs, and zeroed in on William Roderigues (21), who was allegedly found to be in direct touch with Mr. Pujari.

After inquiries, officers found that Mr. Roderigues had obtained and passed on the contact numbers to Mr. Pujari, and arrested him.

“Inquiries also indicate that Mr. Roderigues similarly passed on details of other extortion targets to Mr. Pujari and we are finding out more in this regard. We also suspect the involvement of someone close to the complainant who might have passed on the numbers to Mr. Roderigues,” the officer said.

Mr. Roderigues has been charged with extortion under the Indian Penal Code and has been remanded in police custody till January 19.

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