Bannaje Raja brought to Belagavi, claims threat to life
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Updated
Bengaluru, Aug 14: In a fresh development, highly placed sources told daijiworld that underworld element Bannanje Raja has now been brought to Belagavi for investigation into the Ankola shootout case of 2014.
Bannaje Raja, who was arrested in Morocco in February this year, was brought to New Delhi on Friday August 14, by a team of Karnataka police that included three officers from Mangaluru and Udupi.
After being initially quizzed in New Delhi, he was brought to Belagavi and produced before the magistrate in Belagavi, and handed over to police custody for further investigation.
The case relates to the shootout at Ankola in 2014 in which R N Naik, a businessman and BJP leader, was shot dead by four assailants. The police had then said that Bannanje Raja was the main kingpin behind the incident.
Sources also revealed that during interrogation, he said he feared for his life as Mutthappa Rai and underworld don Ravi Poojary had threatened him, and pleaded for protection.
Regarding extortion threat to a Dubai-based businessman, Raja said that he had acted on the instructions of another businessman, sources said.
It is leart that Raja has been handed over to Udupi police and will be brought to Udupi on Sunday August 15 for investigation into other cases pending against him.
Earlier Report
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Notorious underworld element, who used to issue extortion and death threats to several businessmen in coastal districts of Karnataka, Bengaluru and other parts of India, has been finally brought to India from Morocco.
He was brought by the Indian authorities to New Delhi on Thursday, August 13. Six police officers including three from Mangaluru and Udupi accompanied Raja, who is wanted in 44 criminal cases.
According the reliable sources, Raja is being investigated in New Delhi. During initial investigation, it has been revealed that he disclosed names of three key Karnataka police officials who have been helping him in carrying out extortion crimes in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. It is not yet known when he would be brought to Bengaluru, but there is a possibility thaf it would be only after Independence Day on August 15.
According to the other sources, Bannanje Raja's wife Sona Hemanth Hegde, who has been residing in Dubai, is expected fly to India to help him in providing legal service. Police authorities are on high alert regarding her arrival and she could also be taken into the custody for investigation, sources said.
It may be recalled that Raja was arrested in Casablanca, Morocco on February 10 this year by a special investigative team of India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Though there was no extradition treaty between India and Morocco, special efforts by Indian authorities have made it possible to bring him to India.
Raja was operating his underworld activities safely and fearlessly, until he issued a threat to a leading hotelier of DK origin demanding a huge sum, which turned out to be fatal for him.