Crime Branch sleuths arrested Ravi Pujari's aide, Vijay Kalyani, from his home, seized four weapons
Crime Branch sleuths arrested Ravi Pujari's aide, Vijay Kalyani, from his home, seized four weapons
Following the threat to a builder from underworld extortionist Ravi Pujari, Crime Branch sleuths nabbed his key gunrunner Vijay Dhoopsingh Kalyani (22) in a scoop on Sunday evening. The police claimed Kalyani was nabbed from his residence near Milan Subway in Santacruz. "Kalyani was working with the Pujari gang since the past 3-4 years and was in direct contact with the gangster and his other top aides. Further investigation will reveal more details," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy.
Breakthrough:u00a0Crime Branch sleuths arrested Vijay Dhoopsingh
Kalyani from his residence near Milan Subway in Santacruz on Sunday
On a tip-off, the police stormed into Kalyani's house and seized a 9 mm caliber pistol. Three other weapons were recovered from associate Neil Joram Miskita's residence, who was arrested by the Thane Crime Branch in September last year. They were wedged between a cooler's insulation, which had double layers. The Crime Branch collectively has recovered four guns and 207 rounds.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy displays the
weapons seized from Kalyani's home. Pics/Roshan Sayed
Miskita has been accused of helping Pujari and threatening Ulhasnagar MLA Kumar Ailani last year. He has been booked under the Arms Act, 1959, and also for extortion. According to Roy, Kalyani used to supply weapons to the gang and aid in their other operations. He would even reconnoiter with the shooters prior to an operation. During its course, he would play a watchdog's role.u00a0 "His long stint in the gang made him the most reliable man for supplying weapons," said an officer of the crime branch.
After the shootout, he'd collect the weapons from gang members only to repeat the crime cycle until the next contract. Apart from keeping the weapons, he even purchases them independently. Following Kalyani's arrest, the Crime Branch is keen of catching hold of those whom he might have supplied the weapons. Kalyani's arrest comes two months after the shootout at an Amboli construction site by Pujari, in which two engineers were killed. The mobster has now unleashed a fresh round of threats in the city. One of his current targets, the builder who lost the two engineers in the attack, told MiD DAY that he continues to receive threats from the underworld don. Many deem Pujari's recent overtures as a small-time hooligan's coming of age in the underworld.
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