Mumbai: A 71-year-old man was today arrested by the Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch for allegedly sending proceeds of extortion to gangster Ravi Pujari through the illicit ‘hawala’ channels.
Ramesh alias Dilip Jioram Israni, the accused, lived in suburban Ghatkopar and operated from an office at Zaveri Bazar, police said, adding that he was in the hawala money transfer business for the last many years.
For the last one year Israni was sending the money extorted by the Pujari gang from businessmen and builders to Ravi Pujari, who is living in a foreign country, police said.
Israni was on AEC’s radar for some time, said Dilip Sawant, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime).
He was produced before a court which remanded him in police custody till December 8, the DCP said.
PTI