DNA

Mumbai, Jun 13: Gangster Ravi Pujari allegedly telephoned Abu Salem’s principal lawyer Ashok Saraogi’s home on Tuesday, threatening to kill him.

Saraogi’s wife took the call as he was not at home. Saraogi’s junior Priyatosh Tiwari, who too has represented Salem, said the caller identified himself as Pujari calling from Australia. The caller said he was left with no other alternative than to “eliminate” Saraogi and other members of his family because the lawyer had refused to budge from his stand. The gangster had wanted Saraogi to stay off the 1993 blasts case and also from matters related to Abu Salem.

The Saraogis have informed the police. “We have talked with the DCP. The police have assured us of all cooperation,” Ashok Saraogi said. He said caller threatened to kill him and his family for “backing” an anti-national (Abu Salem) and a non-Hindu. “Pujari claimed that he was calling from Australia and reminded me of his telephone call in February, telling me to pull out of the serial blasts case and that of Salem’s,” Saraogi said. He said it was his fundamental duty to represent an accused — be it Salem or anyone else. A Crime Branch officer said the police were trying to trace the call.