The name is Muthappa Rai, but not Don
Times of India
BANGALORE, Feb 12: Once seen as a leader of the city’s crime syndicate, Muthappa Rai does not want to be called an ‘erstwhile’ or ‘former’ don anymore. After all, he has been acquitted in all cases.
“When courts have acquitted me of all charges, I don’t understand why people still doubt my integrity,’’ he said.
But the past cannot be as easily wished away as Rai might imagine. He still has a ring of security guards around him, as would perhaps a ringleader fearing a rival. Does Rai feel threatened, despite being freed in all cases?
When asked if he believed Dawood Ibrahim was after his life, Rai turned a little serious. He said, “I don’t care for such people. Nor am I scared of anybody. It’s just that I don’t want people to get disturbed with my security,’’ Rai said on Tuesday.
Rai could indeed have passed off as a don when he entered the portals of Hotel Grand Ashok in his Land Cruiser— which bore no number plate. With him entered three land cruisers and a car.
Rai said he always informed intelligence agencies about anti-socials and was rewarded for his information. He said the launch of a social organisation did not mark a change in attitude or roles.
“I always had this approach, and this will not change. Even in the past I had helped people and will continue my social service. When I started the trust in my name, I used to dedicate 25 per cent of the income towards social service. Henceforth, the contribution will be 75 per cent. Now my elder son earns for himself,’ Rai said.
He said he would do as much social work as possible. He took exception to people still referring to him as an erstwhile don.
He smartly fielded questions on his passport controversy, saying the delay in renewal of his passport had prevented him from giving information about more anti-national activity. “I need to travel abroad to get more information about people who are conspiring against the country. However, my passport issue is before the court,’’ Rai said.
The MR factor
A native of Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, Rai was a bank employee but dismissed from service. He ran a small eatery and later opened a bar and restaurant on Brigade Road.
According to the police, his first major strike was the murder of underworld don M P Jairaj. He was accused by the police for killing gangster Oil Kumar. The elimination of these two men made him the leader of the city’s crime syndicate.
In 1997, in a case of mistaken identity, Rowdy Seena was murdered and Rai named as one of the accused. Again, in 2002, Subbaraju, a builder, was shot dead on Cunningham Road, and Rai was again suspected to be the mastermind behind the killing.
The Karnataka police had sought Interpol’s assistance in issuing a red corner notice against him. In 2002, Rai was deported from Dubai under the extradition treaty.
However, Rai kept saying he was innocent and had no role in all these crimes. He had to run away because he was fixed in false cases. However, according to Rai, he decided to fight it out with a return to the city.
Rai was acquitted in the Seena and Subbaraju murder cases. And, in 2007, he was also acquitted in other charges.