The arrested accused has been identified as Sandesh Shetty, who habitually extorts from businessmen in Navi Mumbai on behalf of the Pujari gang, officials said. (Representational image)

Mumbai: The Thane police’s anti-extortion cell has arrested an operative of fugitive gangster Suresh Pujari for issuing death threats to a MNS leader in Thane for trying to ward off Pujari’s henchman from extorting money from a Navi Mumbai-based hotelier. The politician intervened after the hotelier told him about receiving threatening phone calls from the Pujari gang, demanding Rs 24 lakh.

The arrested accused has been identified as Sandesh Shetty, who habitually extorts from businessmen in Navi Mumbai on behalf of the Pujari gang, officials said. “The hotelier approached the MNS leader and informed about the said threats. It was then that the MNS leader, Mr Jadhav, received a call made from an international number Sunday, threatening him with death if he chose not to stay away from the matter,” said a police officer.