Mumbai Crime Branch officials have arrested gangster Prasad Vitthal Pujari, also known as Subhash Vitthal Pujari, Pachu, Sidhu, and Johnny, for allegedly threatening a builder in Vikhroli to secure his mother’s bail. Pujari is currently in police custody, and his interrogation is ongoing. Officials revealed that since his extradition in March last year, multiple cases have been registered against him.
The complainant in the case is a 60-year-old builder residing in Vikhroli with his family. He also holds a political position as the deputy division head of a political party in the area. On December 19, 2019, he was attacked in a shooting incident by unidentified assailants, leaving him injured. Investigations later revealed that the attack was carried out on the orders of Prasad Pujari by his gang members. Following the incident, the Vikhroli Police registered a case and handed over the investigation to the Anti-Extortion Cell, which led to the arrest of ten accused, including Krishnadhar Shivnath Singh alias K.D. Singh/Shivam, Anand Narhari Fadtare, Umesh Chandrashekhar Shetty, Sagar Manoj Mishra alias Abhay Vikram Singh, Vijay Govind Waghmare, Laxman Rama Pawar alias Mahakal, Pappu Rajbali Dubey, Sagar Ravasahib Jadhav, Indira Vitthal Pujari, and Sukeshkumar Suvarna. In light of the attack, the complainant was placed under police protection.
On April 17, 2023, the builder received a threatening phone call from an international number. The caller, identified as Prasad Pujari, threatened to kill him. During the call, Pujari inquired whether his court trial had commenced and if his mother had been granted bail. The complainant, aware of the bail approval, confirmed the information. Shortly after, Pujari called again, demanding a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for his mother’s bail and warned that failure to comply would result in dire consequences for both him and other witnesses. Concerned for his safety, the complainant approached the Vikhroli Police, who took immediate action and registered a case against Pujari for issuing death threats.
The case was later transferred to the Crime Branch, where Pujari was declared a wanted accused. On Thursday, the police finally arrested him. Prasad Pujari is a notorious international gangster who attempted to establish his gang’s dominance in Mumbai while operating from abroad. He has multiple criminal cases registered against him in various Mumbai police stations, including murder, attempted murder, and extortion threats, most of which have now been transferred to the Crime Branch. In March 2024, he was extradited from abroad, after which he has been arrested in multiple cases. The police are now continuing their interrogation and investigation into his criminal activities.