THANE: A court in Thane on Saturday extended the custody of gangster Suresh Pujari by three more days in an extortion case.
Pujari, who was deported from the Philippines early this month, was taken into custody by the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) unit.
The ATS is investigating the case in which Pujari had demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh from a wine shop owner this year in July and threatened to bump him off if he fails to pay the sum.
The case was subsequently registered and transferred to the ATS.
He was produced in the holiday court on Saturday and his custody was extended till 28 December for further investigations, said a police officer.
On the other hand, the crime branch on Saturday was likely to take his custody.
“We have got the production warrant of Pujari from a special MCOCA court and shall take his custody on December 28,” said a police officer.
The crime branch shall investigate his role in a firing and extortion case registered against Pujari and his four aides at the Kongaon police station.
The police said that the gang members had meticulously planned the operation to create fear on the behest of Suresh Pujari, who had called up the owner of KN park hotel demanding Rs 25 lakh as ransom for the past two years.
The owner then had filed a complaint with Hill Line police in Ulhasnagar, where he resides.
As the owner did not heed to the threat calls, hence on January 10, 2018, four men on the behest of Pujari wearing a mask came to KN park hotel and fired a shot on the thighs of receptionist Swara Shirsath 25.
Subsequently, a case was registered with the Kongaon police station four and the four people were arrested then by the anti-extortion cell of the Thane crime branch. Pujari was named in the case.
The case is under investigation by an ACP level officer.
The police had invoked the stringent MCOCA Act in the case and it was after the deportation of Pujari, the Thane police had sought custody of him.
Pujari, who was deported from the Philippines early this month, was taken into custody by the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) unit.
The ATS is investigating the case in which Pujari had demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh from a wine shop owner this year in July and threatened to bump him off if he fails to pay the sum.
The case was subsequently registered and transferred to the ATS.
He was produced in the holiday court on Saturday and his custody was extended till 28 December for further investigations, said a police officer.
On the other hand, the crime branch on Saturday was likely to take his custody.
“We have got the production warrant of Pujari from a special MCOCA court and shall take his custody on December 28,” said a police officer.
The crime branch shall investigate his role in a firing and extortion case registered against Pujari and his four aides at the Kongaon police station.
The police said that the gang members had meticulously planned the operation to create fear on the behest of Suresh Pujari, who had called up the owner of KN park hotel demanding Rs 25 lakh as ransom for the past two years.
The owner then had filed a complaint with Hill Line police in Ulhasnagar, where he resides.
As the owner did not heed to the threat calls, hence on January 10, 2018, four men on the behest of Pujari wearing a mask came to KN park hotel and fired a shot on the thighs of receptionist Swara Shirsath 25.
Subsequently, a case was registered with the Kongaon police station four and the four people were arrested then by the anti-extortion cell of the Thane crime branch. Pujari was named in the case.
The case is under investigation by an ACP level officer.
The police had invoked the stringent MCOCA Act in the case and it was after the deportation of Pujari, the Thane police had sought custody of him.
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