Ravi Pujari, Gangster: Complete Profile and Family

Ravi Pujari: From Marol to Global Underworld

Ravi Prakash Sulya Pujari, known as Ravi Pujari, is one of India’s most notorious gangsters. Born on February 18, 1969, in Malpe, Udupi (Karnataka), he moved to Mumbai at the age of two when his father joined the Shipping Corporation of India. Raised in Andheri’s Marol area, Pujari studied till about 10th grade before turning to the underworld (hindustantimes.com).

Early Criminal Career (1980s–1990s)

Rise in the Mumbai underworld: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ravi Pujari operated under Chhota Rajan’s network. He grew in influence among Rajan’s extortion and contract-killing squads in Mumbai (hindustantimes.com).
Building his own empire: Around 2000, Pujari split from Rajan, forming his own gang. His sources say he oversaw extortion networks targeting Bollywood celebrities, builders, hoteliers, and businessmen, primarily via VOIP and hawala networks from overseas while controlling Mumbai operations through proxy foot soldiers (hindustantimes.com).
High-profile extortion attempts: He threatened big names like Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt, and more between 2006–2013 (hindustantimes.com).

Life in Exile: Australia & Africa

Operating from abroad: After escaping India in the mid-1990s, Pujari lived in Australia, using Australian passports, and later shifted to West Africa. In Senegal, he ran multiple outlets of a restaurant chain—Namaste India—and engaged in local philanthropy by funding water projects and aid programs (en.wikipedia.org).
Aliases and passports: Known to use dozens of fake passports—including Burkina Faso, Sri Lankan “Anthony Fernandes,” and others—he even moved between Senegal and South Africa after being granted bail (indiatoday.in).

Arrests and Extraditions

January 2019 (Senegal): Posing as Anthony Fernandes, he was arrested at a barber shop in Dakar using a Burkina Faso passport (en.wikipedia.org).
February 2020 (South Africa → India): After escaping bail, he was rearrested in South Africa, deported to Senegal, and then extradited to India via a Karnataka police operation (en.wikipedia.org).
January 2022 (Philippines): He faced fresh demands from Indian authorities and was extradited from the Philippines in connection with further extortion charges .

Current Legal Status

Massive case load: Pujari faces over 200 criminal cases, including murders, extortion, conspiracy, and arms violations. Around 97 cases are lodged in Karnataka and about 51 in Mumbai, many under MCOCA (hindustantimes.com).
Recent jail medicals: In June 2024, while lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison, Pujari underwent surgery for an umbilical hernia at BMCRI Hospital (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
Mumbai police custody: On June 4, 2025, Mumbai’s Anti-Extortion Cell secured voice-sample custody in a ₹1 crore car-dealer extortion case from 2021; voice analysis is ongoing (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).

🔎 Recent Verdicts & Legal Developments

1. Acquitted in 1999 Murder Case

In May 2025, a special CBI court in Mumbai acquitted Pujari of charges related to the 1999 murder of Dawood gang member Anil Sharma, citing insufficient evidence. The court highlighted lack of linking Pujari to the criminal conspiracy (indianexpress.com).

2. Sanctioned First Mumbai Judgment Post-Extradition

This acquittal marks the first major Mumbai court verdict since his extradition in 2020, setting a precedent in organized-crime prosecution challenges (mid-day.com).

3. Awaiting Trial in Multiple Cases

He remains in Thane Central Jail, awaiting trials in numerous cases—hundreds of extortion, murder, and attempt-to-murder charges across Mumbai and Karnataka (hindustantimes.com).

📌 Profile Snapshot

Name: Ravi Prakash Sulya Pujari
Also Known As: Anthony Fernandes (alias), many passports
Born: February 18, 1969, Malpe, Karnataka
Education: Completed up to 10th grade in Mumbai
Criminal Career: Late 1980s–present
Main Crimes: Extortion, murder, conspiracy, illegal weapons
Geographic Reach: Mumbai, Bengaluru, Australia, Senegal, South Africa, Philippines
Legal Status: Extradited, incarcerated, facing 200+ charges

🧩 Personal & Philanthropic Dimensions

Restaurant entrepreneur: Established "Namaste India" in West Africa—albeit as a front for survival or networking (en.wikipedia.org).
Philanthropy claims: Allegedly funded water projects and rural aid in Senegal, donating to villages affected by scarcity (en.wikipedia.org).
Digital adeptness: Innovatively used VOIP calls, voice disguise apps, and hawala channels to coordinate extortion worldwide while evading detection (hindustantimes.com).

🌐 Recent Controversies & Threats

Extortion threats from abroad: In late 2024, a Thane-area businessman—Pravin Kishnani—received threats via international calls “warning them not to testify” against Pujari in an ongoing case (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
Mumbai car dealer case: Voice-sample custody obtained against him in June 2025 after threats totaling ₹1 crore via international number (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).

🧠 Top Interesting Facts

Criminal pedigree: He rose through Chhota Rajan’s gang before forging his own path—one of few Rajan-era lieutenants to rebel.
International fugitive: Used up to eight fake passports, shifting between Senegal, South Africa, and Australia.
Business masks: His restaurants in Africa served both cover and claim to legitimacy.
Tech-savvy don: Among first Indian gangsters to fully use VOIP and encrypted communications for extortion.
Philanthropic face: Reputation in Senegal includes water-well donations and community aid—adding complexity to his persona.

❓ FAQs: Everything You’d Want to Know

Q1: Where is Ravi Pujari now?
A: He’s currently in judicial custody at Thane Central Jail, facing MCOCA/extortion/arms cases in Mumbai and Karnataka (hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, indiatoday.in).

Q2: How many cases is he facing?
A: Over 200 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, arms offenses, across multiple jurisdictions (hindustantimes.com).

Q3: What’s the latest verdict?
A: Acquitted on May 27, 2025 in the CBI court in Mumbai of the 1999 murder of Anil Sharma due to lack of evidence .

Q4: Has he been convicted anywhere?
A: No major convictions yet; most cases are pending or acquittals have occurred due to insufficient evidence.

Q5: What’s the ₹1 crore extortion case?
A: Between March–June 2021, Pujari allegedly threatened a Vakola car-dealer for ₹1 crore via international calls. Mumbai AEC secured custody for voice-sample collection in June 2025 (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).

Q6: Did he really run charitable operations in Africa?
A: Media sources confirm his restaurants aided local communities through water projects and donations. Whether genuine or PR-savvy tactic remains debated (en.wikipedia.org).

Q7: Will more verdicts come soon?
A: Several trials are in progress across courts. Recent acquittals underscore the challenges prosecution faces within India’s legal system.

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🧾 Conclusion

Ravi Pujari remains a complex figure: a ruthless extortionist intertwined with Bollywood-linked threats and global escapes, yet cloaked in philanthropy and legal labyrinths. His May 2025 acquittal and ongoing ₹1 crore extortion investigation mark the latest turns. But with 200-plus cases pending, his story remains unfinished.

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