Police arrest gangster Ravi Pujari’s aide for threatening property consultant in Mumbai

Kamal Singh Rajput was trying to settle a dispute related to a slum rehabilitation project in Goregaon (East); he’s been remanded in police custody till Nov 24

The anti-extortion cell (AEC) of Mumbai crime branch arrested gangster Ravi Pujari’s associate Kamal Singh Rajput alias Kamruddin Patel for threatening a real estate consultant. Rajput was remanded in police custody till November 24.

The accused’s father used to work for Chhota Rajan and when Pujari separated from Rajan, Rajput started working for him. (HT)

Rajput lives in Dindoshi, Goregaon (East), and was associated with Pujari for several years. He handled the gangster’s finances and collected extortion money from targets in Mumbai and its neighbouring cities, said crime branch officials. He was in touch with Pujari regularly and distributed money to gang members according to his instructions.

Rajput’s role came to light after the crime branch arrested Vikrant Vardani, 36; Daya Jadhav, 30; and Dashrat Shinde, 50; on October 30, following a complaint registered by the consultant. The crime branch invoked charges of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against all four accused.

The complainant is a consultant of a Slum Rehabilitation Authority project in Khadagpada. A Santacruz-based developer had undertaken the project a few years ago. A survey showed that around 90 slum dwellers were eligible for rehabilitation, which the two fought over.

A few months ago, the consultant went to meet the developer in his Juhu office, where Vardani was. Vardani allegedly threatened the consultant, saying he had contacts in the underworld would ensure dire consequences for the consultant if the dispute was not settled, the official said.