Belagavi: Sensation gripped political circles and the Police Department when a man from Australia claiming to be the underworld don, Ravi Pujari, called Sambhaji Patil, MLA (Belagavi South), and sought financial help on Wednesday.
Confirming that the caller, who identified himself as Ravi Pujari, had made the call on his cellphone from Australia (+6666874044) after trying to contact him on his landline number twice and sought financial assistance, Mr. Patil told newsmen that the caller sought Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh stating that he was in financial stress.
The following is the summary of the brief conservation between “Ravi Pujari” and Mr. Patil:
‘RP’: Have your heard my name, Ravi Pujari?
SP: No, I have not.
‘RP’: I am Ravi Pujari, now in Australia and in need of money; I know you have helped many others, even the Bandiwadekar Company of Naganwadi of Chandgadh taluk in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.
SP: No, I did not help any Bandiwadekar company.
Asked whether Ravi Pujari threatened him or if it was just an extortion call, Mr. Patil denied that the caller threatened him. But, the tone and the manner in which he sought financial help was incomprehensible and I told him whatever I wanted to say, he said.
Mr. Patil, a four-time Mayor of Belagavi and senior leader of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi, met Police Commissioner S. Ravi and registered a complaint in this connection. He also informed the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and top police authorities at Bengaluru about the call.
Mr. Ravi said that investigation is being taken up immediately.
Interestingly, “Ravi Pujari” seems to have referred to Prakash Bandiwadekar, who was wanted in cases of murder and extortion and arrested at Naganwadi in July last. The Indian fugitive, who is wanted in several criminal cases, including murder and extortion, and also in relation to attempts to extract money from Bollywood stars, including Shahrukh Khan, is reportedly absconding and operating the extortion racket from abroad. His call to Mr. Patil suggested that the fugitive is hiding in Australia.
