Gangster Suresh Pujari manhandled during scuffle between two groups in Mumbai jail

Mumbai: Gangster Suresh Pujari has allegedly been manhandled during a scuffle between two groups of inmates inside the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, officials said on Monday.

No one was injured in the incident which took place in the central prison last week, they said.

The police have registered a case against seven persons, including Pujari, for indulging in the fight, the officials said.

The incident occurred on July 6 after a heated argument over an inmate spreading his legs when a prisoner from another group was passing through an area in a barrack, an official said.

As it was creating a hurdle in walking, the prisoner objected, following which the person who had spread his legs abused the former. This led to a scuffle between the two groups, he said.

Pujari, who is lodged in the same barrack, and some of his associates also got involved in the scuffle. The gangster was allegedly manhandled by four inmates, the official said.

Pujari had tried to intervene, but was beaten up by members of the other group, the official said.

The gangster and his associates also beat up inmates of the other group, he said.

Within a minute of the scuffle, the prison authorities intervened and brought the situation under control, the official said.

Based on complaint filed by the prison authorities, a case has been registered at the N M Joshi Marg police station against seven persons, including Pujari, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 194 (2) (affray), he said.

Suresh Pujari, a former associate of gangster Ravi Pujari, was deported to India from the Philippines in 2021 after being on the run for several years.

The gangster has more than 50 FIRs of extortion and other offences registered against him at police stations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane.