Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s office in Nagpur on Tuesday received three telephone calls from a man who identified himself as Jayesh Pujari who threatened to harm him if he did not cough up ₹10 crore.
The calls were received by Gadkari’s staff after which they alerted the minister in Delhi and informed the local police. Additional security personnel were later posted at the office.
On January 14 too a man claiming to be Pujari had issued a similar telephonic threat to Gadkari.
The call was traced to a criminal named Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha, who is in Hindalga Central Jail near Belagavi in Karnataka.
Kantha, who is serving a sentence following his conviction in a murder case, had then vehemently denied that he had threatened the minister.
Sources said it was surprising that Nagpur Police was not able to track the threat call immediately.
Sources to FPJ: Gadkari not worried about security
A source close to Gadkari told FPJ: “Nitinji is not worried about his security. He is going about his job normally.”
Nagpur is Gadkari’s hometown, which he often visits. Many of his supporters in the BJP are surprised that he is being repeatedly targeted.
“Gadkari is one of the most efficient Union ministers whose department is laying hundreds of highways across the country. He has friends across the political divide. It is surprising that someone is frequently issuing threats to him,” a close friend of the minister stated.
The police have commenced their investigations and a team is expected to leave for Karnataka on Wednesday.
