'Pujari gang member' shoots hotel staffer at Nallasopara

A hotel employee in Nallasopara was shot by an unidentified person on Sunday afternoon. The shooter left behind a handwritten note with 'Gangster Suresh Pujari' written on it. The incident has been captured on the closed circuit television (CCTV) of the hotel. The police suspect that the shooter was a member of Suresh Pujari Gang. Pujari, believed to be operating from the Middle East, has reportedly been threatening and extorting money from builders in Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar.

The incident took place at around 1 pm after the victim, Dilip Varma, 26, who works as a captain at Galaxy family restaurant, bar and hotel sustained a chest injury. A case of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC. "We suspect the hand of the Pujari gang but the note could have been left behind to mislead us. We are questioning the hotel owners about extortion calls received from Pujari or any other gangster. We are also examining the CCTV footage of the vicinity to get information on whether the suspect came on foot or a vehicle," said Ravi Badgujar, Senior Police Inspector of Nallasopara police station.

THE FOOTAGE

The 40 seconds footage shows a man wearing a white shirt and cap enter the hotel and approach the reception counter. After gaining Varma's attention, the suspect is seen pulling the trigger and leaving behind a note with Pujari's name written with blue ink.