A trap was laid at Dadar station where the accused were nabbed, soon after they arrived in Mumbai to nail another target
The accused were produced in court and have been remanded in police custody till January 25
The accused were produced in court and have been remanded in police custody till January 25
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The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of Mumbai has busted another of gangster Suresh Pujari's operations. On January 10, two masked men fired at a Bhiwandi hotel receptionist and escaped from the spot. AEC has not only detected the Bhiwandi firing case but also averted two more firing incidents planned by the Pujari gang. The module which was working for these shootings was formed three years ago, in which shooters were brought from Konkan on the pretext of paying Rs 75,000 per shootout.
Also read - Bhiwandi hotel firing: Gangster Suresh Pujari, shooters booked for extorting owner
AEC was working on a complaint from a Fort-based businessman who alleged that someone was trying to extort money from him. And, that while threatening, the caller mentioned the phrase 'Bhiwandi firing'. AEC started gathering more details on the complainant. During their investigation, they found out that one person from his office was providing vital information to a man who was located abroad. "Our investigation revealed that a plan was being hatched to shoot at the businessman and for the same shooters would be arriving in the city from Ratnagiri on January 20," said an officer from AEC. "A trap was laid around 3.30am at Dadar station and three men were arrested. They had information about a target in Mumbai," the officer added.
The interrogation that followed revealed that out of the three shooters who had come to Mumbai, two were involved in the Bhiwandi firing — Noor Mohammed Dil Mohammed Khan and Prathamesh Kadam. Other arrested accused are Sanket Dalvi, Aniket Thakur and Harish Kotian. "Harish Kotian is a handler who was collecting information of possible targets for extortion. He would then pass on the information to Suresh Pujari. It has been learnt that until now, he has collected information on around 22 businessmen across Mumbai and Thane," the AEC officer said. Cops have seized two revolvers, three magazines and five rounds from the accused.
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