Underworld criminal Ravi Suliya Pujari, who is accused of murder and extortion in Karnataka, Maharasthra and Gujarat, was arrested recently in Dakar in Senegal. Senegalese policemen arrested Pujari from a barbershop and confirmed his detention to Indian authorities on January 21.
Pujari, who is accused in at least 91 cases in Karnataka and a further 50 cases in Mumbai city, has eluded the police for over three decades, since his association with Dawood Ibrahim.
In June of last year, Karnataka police launched “Operation Ravi Pujari” to arrest him. Police had information that the criminal was a partner in a chain of restaurants in Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Ivory Coast in West Africa. He had obtained a new identity of one Antony Fernandez, and even got a Burkina Faso passport for himself and his family, says a release from the Karnataka government.
Karnataka ADGP Amar Kumar Pandey coordinated with the National Crime Bureau, New Delhi to expedite four pending Red Notices to INTERPOL.
The break came when Pujari surfaced in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. India’s Ambassador to Senegal Rajeev Kumar was informed, who in turn alerted Interior Minister Aly Ngouille Nbiaye.
On January 21, 2019, his detention was confirmed for extradition to India. Karnataka has started formalities to bring Pujari to India, said Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said.
The Mumbai have also sought custody of the wanted don. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashutosh Dumbare, Mumbai Police said, “We will be starting the process of seeking Pujari's custody in connection with the cases against him. He is wanted in 50 cases since 1988.”