Bhatkal’s lawyer alleges threats by don, moves HC

NEW DELHI: A counsel appearing for Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal has moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection for himself, after being allegedly threatened by underworld don Ravi Pujari. Bhatkal’s lawyer MS Khan alleged that Pujari has asked him to withdraw from the case.

The Delhi HC is likely to hear the matter on Monday.

“A person claiming to be underworld don Ravi Pujari called me last month and also sent messages from international phone numbers telling me to withdraw from the case of Yasin Bhatkal. I have informed the Delhi police, but I do not think they are taking the matter very seriously. I have hence moved the Delhi HC asking for its intervention,” confirmed Khan.

He further added that it was recently reported that Pujari was making threat calls to some Bollywood stars and producers from a number of numbers from Iran. “I also received calls from some Iranian number,” Khan said.

Ravi Pujari had earlier claimed responsibility for the killing of Shahid Azmi, the Mumbai based lawyer of Fahim Ansari - an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Ansari was later acquitted. The caller apparently told Khan that besides killing Shahid Azmi, he was also responsible for the murders of Qateel Siddiqui, an accused in the German Bakery blast case who was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Pune’s Yerwada jail in June, 2012, and Naushad Kasim -the lawyer of alleged underworld operative Rashid Malbari - in 2009.

The police claim that Malbari, allegedly an operative of Chota Shakeel gang, wanted to kill BJP leader Varun Gandhi and Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik.