'Network behind threat calls to Guj MLAs to be busted soon'

Gujarat government today told the state Legislative Assembly that police would soon bust the entire network behind the threat calls made to some Congress MLAs.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja informed the House that police is taking decisive action against those involved in making the threat calls.

He was responding to the concerns expressed by Shankersinh Vaghela, the Leader of Opposition in Assembly, about the alleged threat calls by fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari.

"We have taken such threat calls very seriously. Our primary investigations suggests that MLAs need not worry too much. We have made enough security arrangements for MLAs. I want to say that the entire network behind such calls will be busted in the coming days," Jadeja said.
 

While raising the issue in the House today, Vaghela said that several Congress MLAs, such as CK Raulji, Shaktisinh Gohil and Amit Chavda, received threat calls from Ravi Pujari recently.

"The latest victim was our MLA from Banaskantha Dharshi Khanpura. Ravi Pujari asked him to vacate his assembly seat. Threatening an elected member to vacate his seat is more serious than extorting money. I urge the government to trace these calls and nab the culprits," said Vaghela.

Raulji said that Pujari has no fear of law as he gave an interview to a local TV channel yesterday.

"In the interview over phone, which went live for almost nine minutes, Pujari openly admitted to have given such threats to us. The gangster even said he is doing it to clean the rubbish from Gujarat. Such political statement ahead of 2017 polls must be taken seriously," Raulji said.

"Pujari even told the editor of that news channel that Congress MLAs have links with gangster Dawood Ibrahim and are regularly in touch with them over phone. I want the government to check my call detail records and hang me if I am found to have connections with Dawood," he added.

To this, Jadeja said some BJP leaders also received such threat calls recently.

"It's not just Congress which is being targeted, as a local BJP leader from Navsari also received such call. Our police have nabbed two persons yesterday from Goa in this connection. All our agencies, such as ATS and Crime Branch is probing this case with all sincerity," Jadeja said.