Woman detained at Airport is not Ravi Pujari's wife, clarifies police

[email protected] (CD Network)
December 24, 2014

Mangaluru, Dec 24: The arrest of the œwife  and œson  of fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari at Mumbai International Airport has finally turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

A 42-year-old woman from Borivli along with her teenage son was detained by the immigration authorities at the Mumbai Airport on Monday evening following a Lookout Circular (LoC) issued by the Mangaluru police in 2012.

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Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria

The woman was detained as she shared the same name that was of the suspect mentioned in the LoC. The LoC had also stated that the woman named is none other than wife of gangster Ravi Pujari.

The high-voltage drama began after one Sridevi Pujari, who stays in Borivli and is a teacher, was detained by the immigration authorities after she, along with her 15-year-old son, was on her way to board a flight for Abu Dhabi on Monday evening to spend a holiday. Interestingly, the name of Ravi Pujari's wife is also Sridevi Pujari. To add to the confusion, her son Aryan shares his name with the gangster's son.

The Mangaluru City police had issued an LoC in 2012 against Sridevi Pujari for her alleged involvement in a case of extorting money from a businessman there. œIn that case, gangster Ravi Pujari and Sridevi Pujari were shown as accused persons,  said Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria.

When the Mumbai police informed their Mangaluru counterparts about the detention, the Mangaluru police said that the woman detained by the airport authorities might be Pujari's wife. While Sridevi, a resident of Ekta Cooperative Housing Society in Borivli, was detained by the Sahar police, her son was sent to Dongri children's home.

The Mumbai police then sent three teams to the airport for verification. An inspector working with Mumbai crime branch, who had seen Pujari's wife in 2005, was also called for verification. The inspector clearly stated that the detained woman is not Pujari's wife Padma alias Sridevi. An assistant commissioner of police from Mumbai also stated that he know the detained woman and that she has no criminal background.

œWe were told by Mangaluru police that the detained woman is wife of Ravi Pujari and it was even mentioned in their LoC,  said Maria.

On Tuesday, Sridevi was produced before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate court. In the court, Sridevi's husband Santosh Pujari too was present. Later the Mangaluru police also admitted that the detained Sridevi Pujari was not the one they were looking for and let her off as she was a namesake of the suspect in their case.

The Mangaluru police had registered a case case against Sridevi in 2012 under Indian Penal Code sections 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous person), 384 (extortion) and 34 (common intention).

It could be recalled here that former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma had arrested Ravi Pujari's wife padma in 2005 in fake passport case. She had forged documents to obtain her passport and those of her daughters. She was released on bail after a month, but fled within six months by secretly making another passport from Mangaluru. However, the woman detained in Mumbai on Monday had a passport issued to her in Mumbai, official sources said.

Also Read:

Mangaluru ACP in Mumbai to follow up on arrest of Ravi Pujari's wife, son

Ravi Pujari's wife, 14-year-old held at Mumbai airport

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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