TNN
Mumbai, may 29: The underworld has once again started threatening city businessmen to meet their extortion demands. A small industrialist from Andheri (E) had a narrow escape on Wednesday morning, after two shooters suspected to belong to the Hemant Pujari gang, fired a round at his car. Nagesh Kunder, the victim, was not injured and continued to drive his vehicle till his office, after the attack. He later lodged a complaint with the MIDC police.
“Kunder had received extortion calls from the Pujari gang two months ago. A sum of Rs 50 lakh was demanded from him. At that time, Kunder did not inform the local police but directly approached the antiextortion cell (AEC),’’ zonal DCP K M M Prasanna said.
Kunder is the proprietor of Perfect Moulds and Dyes at Shivshakti Industrial Estate in Andheri (E). He has been in the business for 30 years. The company’s annual profit is around Rs 10-15 lakh, the police said.
According to Kunder’s statement to the police, he has been receiving threat calls on his residential landline, office phone as well as his cellphone which implies that the gang has detailed information on him. The threat calls continued even after he approached the AEC.
Around 10 am on Wednesday, Kunder was headed to his office in his car. Between 10 and 10.10 am, while he was driving on the Andheri-Kurla road, two men walked towards his car from the opposite direction. Suddenly, one of them pulled out a gun and shot one round at the vehicle. The round hit the door of the car and got stuck there. A stunned Kunder kept on driving and stopped only after reaching his office, while the attackers escaped.
For the next two hours, Kunder stayed in his office and contacted the MIDC police only around noon. Officials said he was nervous after the attack.
“Kunder was alone in the car, when the incident occurred. The shooters were not masked and Kunder got a glimpse of their faces. Based on the description provided by him, we will now prepare identity sketches of the suspects,’’ an officer said. Kunder told the police that he did not receive any fresh threats after the attack on Wednesday.
“He has been offered police protection. Our top priority now is to ascertain the identity of the shooters,’’ DCP Prasanna added.