The Anti Extortion Cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch on Saturday arrested one of the oldest associates of fugitive gangster Suresh Pujari for allegedly aiding the latter’s extortion racket.
According to Thane AEC officers, Mirchu Sharma (55), was arrested after he was picked up from his Ulhasnagar residence on Saturday.
Received tip-off
“We had received information about Mirchu’s activities and picked him up on the basis of the tip off. Inquiries have revealed that he would gather details about possible targets for extortion, like builders and businessmen, study their movements and get contact details, and pass them on to Pujari,” Senior Police Inspector Pradeep Sharma, Thane AEC said.
Mr. Sharma said that Pujari is believed to have made several extortion calls based on the details provided by Mirchu.
Believed to be one of Pujari’s oldest friends, Mirchu used to run a video parlour in Ulhasnagar before the gangster fled abroad. Mirchu had been arrested in 2015 by the Thane police for the alleged murder of a cable operator from Ulhasnagar, which was allegedly ordered by Pujari.
Close associates
Officers said that gangsters based out of the country depend on their close associates for information on targets for extortion.
“These aides work locally and gather information about affluent people in their areas. They first keep a watch on their movements for a few days and also obtain their contact numbers, which are all passed on to their bosses. Subsequently, the gangsters make extortion calls and use the information about the daily routine of the targets to convince them that they were being watched and could be attacked at any time. The trick usually works and scares the targets into paying up,” a Crime Branch officer said.
Pujari, who is believed to be abroad, has some 20 offences registered against him in the Thane district.
In January this year Pujari allegedly sanctioned a hit on a Bhiwandi-based hotelier who refused to pay up the extortion money sought from him. The police went on to arrest four accused in connection with the attempt on the hotelier’s life.
