Mehmood Abdi has sought police protection saying that the gangster had threatened to harm him and his family.
Lalit Modi’s lawyer Mehmood Abdi has filed a complaint with the Oshiwara Police station for receiving a threatening call from a person who identified himself as Ravi Pujari. The caller asked Abdi why he was representing Lalit Modi. He also asked Abdi to refrain from attending Modi’s matters or else he will have to face dire consequences. In the complaint, Abdi mentioned that he received a call on his phone at 2.17 pm on Sunday from ISD number.
In his letter, Abdi has sought police protection saying that the gangster had threatened to harm him and his family. The complaint has been reportedly transferred to the Anti-Extortion Cell.
Abdi said, “I received a telephone call on my mobile from 38583032170. The caller identified himself as Ravi Pujari speaking from Australia. He questioned as to why I am defending Lalit Modi. I told him that I am doing my duty as his legal counsel.”
“However, the caller went on saying that he has bumped off a lawyer in Bangalore. He threatened me to desist from attending Lalit Modi’s matters else he will harm me and my family. The caller informed me that his boys have already seen my address and know about my family. He wanted me to note down the telephone number which I could not do since I was driving. He told me that he will give me a number on which Lalit Modi should speak to him. He said that he will call me again” he added.
“In the circumstances, I request to look into this serious matter urgently and provide me and my family police protection,” Abdi said.
Later, the Mumbai police recorded his detailed statement in the matter. Lalit Modi tweeted from London that he keeps getting threats: “Now, threatening my lawyers too; This is the real world or cricket politics.”
A police official said Abdi’s complaint would be probed before further measures are initiated.
Pujari has worked with gangster Chhota Rajan and has been involved in several extortion cases in Mumbai. Bollywood actors including Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan have also received threats in the past.
