Ravi Pujari’s Mumbai victims’ kin want harshest punishment for gangster

Ravi Pujari was extradited from Senegal a year ago. He was in custody of Karnataka police

A few months into his marriage in 2011, Kolhapur resident Samrat Devarshi moved to Mumbai for better prospects. The civil engineer joined a builder and was posted at an Andheri site. His dreams were cut short after he was gunned down by Ravi Pujari's men. With Pujari now in the custody of Mumbai police, families of people like Samrat and victims affected by the gangster are demanding the toughest punishment for the former Chhota Rajan aide.

The anti-extortion cell of Mumbai police with Ravi Pujari, who was brought to the city on Tuesday

Samrat's father Srikanth, a former teacher, said Pujari's goons snatched his pillar of support. "Samrat was a hard working boy and a college topper. After his death, we got his wife remarried. Now, I and his mother Jyoti are waiting for justice. He deserves the strictest punishment for killing my innocent son," Srikanth told mid-day.

Pujari's henchmen killed Samrat after the builder refused to give in to the gangster's extortion demand. Samrat apart, they also pumped bullets into his fellow engineer Yogesh Khule.

Originally from Ratnagiri, Yogesh lived in Nerul with his father, brother and sister-in-law. The family said Yogesh had an affable personality. His brother Rakesh said, "We thank the police for arresting Pujari. We demand that he be hanged."

Pujari's accomplices had also targeted a businessman's office in a western suburb. The businessman, who did not wish to be identified, said, "After refusing to give money to Pujari, I could not sleep that night out of fear. A few days later, his men opened fire at my office. Such accused should be kept in jail. We business people have heaved a sigh of relief after Pujari's arrest."

A year after his extradition from Senegal, the Mumbai police brought Pujari to Mumbai from Bangalore on Tuesday after getting his custody in 10 cases, including 9 firing attacks. For now, a court has given him to city cops till March 9.

Joint CP Crime Milind Bharambe told Mid day, "The Mumbai police have strong evidence against him which includes murder and extortion cases."

2011
Year Pujari's men killed two engineers at an Andheri site