Thane: In a major breakthrough, the Thane Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Squad has arrested notorious gangster Ravi Pujari, who had been evading law enforcement agencies for several years. The arrest is linked to a 2017 extortion case involving a construction businessman in Thane.

According to police, a case was registered at Kasarvadavali police station after Pujari allegedly demanded Rs 10 crore from a builder and issued death threats. To instill fear, his associates reportedly opened fire at the businessman’s office. The case was later booked under the stringent MCOCA provisions and is currently pending before a special court.

Pujari had been operating his criminal network from abroad for years and had around 44 serious cases registered against him. A Red Corner Notice had also been issued for his arrest. He was earlier detained in the Republic of Senegal in 2019, following which Indian authorities initiated extradition proceedings through the central government.

After receiving approval from Senegal, the Anti-Extortion Squad formally took him into custody on March 17, 2026, from a central jail in Bengaluru. He was subsequently produced before a special MCOCA court in Thane.

The court has remanded him to police custody till March 27, 2026. Officials stated, “This arrest is a significant step in cracking down on organized crime and long-pending extortion cases.”

Further investigation in the case is being carried out under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Vinay, who will probe deeper into Pujari’s network and operations.