The Mumbai Crime Branch arrests gangster Ravi Pujari in an extortion case involving choreographer and filmmaker Remo D’Souza. This case goes back to a long-standing conflict over the film *Death of Amar SatyendraTyagi*, which D’Souza also produced. The dispute started in 2016 and reportedly revolved around the issuance of a no-objection certificate, how to share profits, and the film’s release.
Mumbai Crime Branch arrest Ravi Pujari
Officials state that Pujari allegedly threatened Lizelle D’Souza, Remo’s wife, on behalf of the film’s producer, SatyendraTyagi. The threats included a demand for Rs 5 crore, which was said to be Tyagi’s share, along with an extra Rs 50 lakh as extortion money for a “settlement.” They warned that the family would face harm if they did not make the payment.
Extortion case against him
An extortion case was filed in 2018, leading to the arrest of Tyagi and another suspect. At that time, Ravi Pujari and his associate Prasad Pujari were in another country to avoid arrest. Pujari was extradited from Senegal in 2020 for unrelated criminal cases. Recently, the Mumbai Crime Branch officially arrested him in the case connected to Remo D’Souza after taking him into custody for further investigation.
Police say multiple cases of extortion, intimidation, attempted murder, and murder have been filed against Pujari in Mumbai. They have also applied provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him.
Read also: Influencer Arrested for Abetting Man’s Suicide After Viral Bus Video