Underworld don Ravi Pujari has arrived in his hometown, Udupi (Karnataka), under police security to attend the last rites of his mother, Sushila Pujarthi, who died of a heart attack. The gangster, active in the underworld for nearly 26 years, was brought from Bengaluru to Udupi after obtaining special permission from the court. His arrival has attracted attention as he returns to his native place with police escort for an emotional family occasion while he is in judicial custody.
Sushila Pujarthi (86) died of a heart attack on Thursday night. Her last rites will be held at the family’s ancestral house in Nergi, Malpe in Udupi district. Ravi Pujari was given special permission by the court to go and pay his mother her last respects as well as attend her funeral. The court asked police to bring him to Udupi under tight security and return him immediately after the funeral rituals are over, from Bengaluru. Permission is only for attending final rites and does not change custody status.
As directed by the court, Ravi Pujari was taken from Bengaluru to Udupi in heavy police escort. The Bengaluru City Armed Reserve Police were asked to arrange for his transportation and security. The prison department also provided additional security, while Udupi district police made separate arrangements for law and order around the funeral venue. Since he is a criminal and serious cases have been registered against him, precautions were taken throughout his movement as well as during his stay at the family residence.
The court has also given specific instructions about security arrangements and transportation expenses. Ravi Pujari will have to bear the entire cost of the police escort provided for him from Bengaluru to Udupi and back himself. Police should keep him under continuous supervision during his visit.
Once funeral ceremonies at the family’s ancestral home in Nergi are over, he will be taken back to Bengaluru (under police escort) as directed by the court. Authorities are expected to strictly follow conditions imposed in the special permission granted for the visit.
Ravi Pujari’s visit to Udupi is after several years of legal proceedings and investigations into his alleged involvement in organised crime. He was active in underworld for about 26 years reportedly; accused in serious criminal cases like murder, attempted murder, extortion, collection of protection money and criminal intimidation etc.
Cases have been registered against him in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and other states also. More than 90 cases are reportedly linked to him alone in Karnataka, making him one of the most notorious underworld figures associated with criminal networks in the state.
His criminal record also includes an international arrest operation. On 19 January 2019, Ravi Pujari was arrested in Senegal (a West African country) by Indian investigative agencies, after which he was brought back to India for legal proceedings. His return to the country led to further investigations into allegations of organised extortion, threats and other serious offences.
The court allowed Ravi Pujari permission to attend his mother’s funeral on humanitarian grounds because even in cases where serious allegations and criminal cases are against him, the court gives permission only under strict conditions (especially when the person is in judicial custody and has multiple serious criminal cases). He can take care of family responsibilities, but legal process and security requirements need not be affected.
The visit has also brought to the fore how hard life is for families of those in long-drawn criminal cases. For Ravi Pujari, it is a trip to Udupi where he can pay his last respects to his 86-year-old mother after she passed away, but court conditions make sure that the visit is only temporary and closely monitored. Once funeral rituals are over at the ancestral home in Nergi, he will be taken back to Bengaluru, where he will have to face legal proceedings in the cases registered against him.
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