The Mumbai Police’s Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) has achieved a major breakthrough by arresting gangster Ravi Pujari in a long-pending extortion and threat case involving Bollywood choreographer and film director Remo D’Souza and his wife, Lizelle D’Souza. The case dates back to 2018, but Pujari has now been formally arrested in connection with this matter.
Ravi Pujari was deported to India from Senegal nearly five years ago and has since been lodged in jail. However, he had not been officially arrested in this particular case until now. On Thursday, the Mumbai Crime Branch produced him before the Esplanade Court, which remanded him to police custody till January 27.
According to police sources, Ravi Pujari had allegedly threatened Remo D’Souza at the behest of Satyendra Tyagi, who has already been named as an accused in the case. It is alleged that between October 2016 and February 2018, Pujari repeatedly made threatening phone calls to Remo D’Souza, his wife Lizelle, and their manager. The calls were allegedly made to pressure them to expedite the release of the film ‘Death of Amar’ and to demand ₹50 lakh as extortion money to “settle” the matter.
In 2018, Remo D’Souza and Satyendra Tyagi had entered into an agreement related to a film titled ‘Death of Amar’. Subsequently, disputes arose between the two over certain rights and financial matters linked to the film. Tyagi claimed that he had invested money in the project and that nearly ₹5 crore was due to him, which he alleged Remo D’Souza had failed to pay.
Following the dispute, it is alleged that Satyendra Tyagi sought Ravi Pujari’s help to recover the money. Thereafter, Pujari allegedly began threatening Remo D’Souza, his wife, and their manager, demanding ₹50 lakh as extortion money. The investigation in the case is ongoing.