Gangster Prasad Poojari to be brought to Mumbai from China today

A senior officer said, “This is the first time a gangster is being deported from China as usually they are not positive to such requests from us.”

The officer said Poojari has nine cases against him in Mumbai. Poojari was involved in a case of firing in Vikhroli in 2019 while in 2023 he had last made an extortion call to a city builder.

Poojari, on the run since 2010, was caught on the Interpol’s notice in Hong Kong in March last year. Poojari’s file and DNA samples of his family, particularly his mother, were annexed with the dossier to be sent to the Chinese government that was translated to Mandarin. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

India had been trying to get him deported since April last year when China gave in principle approval to deport him.

Poojari, on the run since 2010, was caught on the Interpol’s notice in Hong Kong in March last year. Poojari’s file and DNA samples of his family, particularly his mother, were annexed with the dossier to be sent to the Chinese government that was translated to Mandarin.

Poojari, a former member of deported gangster Kumar Pillai and Chhota Rajan, is believed to have married a Chinese national. He was about to take a flight along with his Chinese wife from Hong Kong when authorities detained him.

In 2020, the anti-extortion cell of the crime branch had arrested one Sagar Jadhav and five others over firing on a Shiv Sena functionary.

During probe, police learnt about the alleged role of Poojari’s mother Indira (60) in the case. The crime branch later arrested her for allegedly helping her son run an extortion racket in the city.