Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Updated
Udupi, Aug 29: Underworld element Bannanje Raja, who was brought to India a few days ago after being arrested in Morocco in February this year, was on Saturday August 29 produced in court in Udupi.
Judge Nagajyothi remanded Raja in Udupi police custody for nine days.
It is learnt that Raja would be interrogated in connection with the shootout at Airody Jewellers in Udupi in 2011.
It may be recalled that on August 19, 2011, masked men, allegedly aides of Bannanje Raja, had barged into Airody Jewellers and fired three rounds at the cashier, and escaped in a two-wheeler.
It is learnt that before a few days before the incident, Bannanje Raja had called the owner of the jewellery store twice and issued threats.
After the incident too, Raja had reportedly called up around eight different media and claimed responsibility for the attack.
Udupi inspector Srikanth Rao is investigating the case.
The cases against Raja filed in Malpe, Brahmavar and Manipal police stations will be investigated later, police sources said. Police are expected to take custody of him again for this purpose.
Lawyer Amar from Bengaluru is representing Bannanje Raja, sources said.
Earlier Report
Bannanje Raja remanded in judicial custody till Sept 11
Belagavi, Aug 29 (DHNS): After the expiry of his 15-day police custody, underworld element Bannanje Raja was produced before a special court under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act-2000 in Belagavi on Friday, which remanded him in judicial custody till September 11.
He will now be housed in the Central Prison at Hindalga, where the other accused involved in the murder of Ankola businessman R N Nayak are serving time.
Raja, who was under the Udupi police custody, was brought to Belagavi and produced before the Principal District and Sessions Judge P Krishna Bhat who remanded him in judicial custody after Udupi Superintendent of Police Annamalai K, in his submission before the court which is holding an in camera hearing, said that as of now there was no need for extending the police custody.
Briefing the media, Annamalai said the investigation in the murder case had not been completed, but the Udupi police had not sought an extension of Raja’s police custody. Raja will be housed in the Hindalga jail.
However, the gangster faces several criminal cases in various places across the State, including Shivamogga, Kodagu, Mangaluru, Mysuru and Bengaluru. The police authorities of the jurisdictions concerned could seek his custody for further investigation.
Annamalai said eight accomplices of the gangster were behind bars, two of them in the Kalaburagi jail. Bannanje is the ninth accused among eleven, he said.
Earlier in the day, Bannanje was brought from Udupi to Belagavi under tight police security. The judge who took up the case immediately ordered an in camera hearing. The court hall was jampacked with curious advocates and journalists, but they had to leave the hall following the order.
Bannanje was extradited from Morocco to India on August 16.