Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP) 

Mangaluru, Sep 24: The charge of illegal possession of arms levelled against three persons, said to be aides of absconding notorious criminal, Bannanje Raja, has been found to be proved by the sixth additional district and sessions court here. The court has sentenced the guilty to five years of jail terms and fine of Rs 50,000 each. 

Those who were found guilty and sentenced happen to be Manish Kumar alias Neeraj Srivatsav alias Rahul (33), resident of Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Ali Hussain alias Hussain Ali alias Ravi (30) from Banaras district, and Puttaswamy M B (52), living on 14th cross road at Gokulam, Mysuru.

Bannanje Raja 

The above-named Bannanje accomplices were facing charges of firing at the car belonging to real estate businessman, Suresh Bhandary near Kadri Park here, and shootout at Airody Jewellers Udupi along with four others, living in an apartment at Kottara Chowki and plotting the murder of people who refuse to pay protection money to Bannanje Raja. Bunder police station circle inspector and the then head of Anti Rowdy Squad, Vinay A Gaonkar, along with staff had raided the said apartment. During the raid, Manish Kumar, Ali Hussain, Puttaswamy M B, Devadas Shetty and Vinod Kulal from Mangaluru, Amit Kumar Chourasia from Uttar Pradesh and Abdul Rahej Khan were found in the apartment and arrested. 

Manish was found in possession of a revolver and a round of live ammunition, Ali Hussain had one pistol and five live bullets, while Puttaswamy was found having one pistol and five live bullets. Further investigation was completed by the then Kavoor police circle inspector, H R Siddappa, who filed charge sheet. 

Judge of the sixth additional district and sessions court, Sayeedunnisa, through a judgement delivered on September 23, came to the conclusion that the charge of possessing illegal arms was proved against Manish, Ali Hussain and Puttaswamy. They were handed down a year of imprisonment each and fine. In case of failure to pay fine, they will have to undergo six additional months of imprisonment. Under section 7, five years jail term and the fine was imposed. If they fail to pay fine, they will have to be behind bars for one more year. Four other accused have been exonerated. 

Advocate Kishore D’Silva had argued the case for accused no 7 (Abdul Rahej Khan), Advocate Rajesh Amtadi had argued for accused no 4 (Vinod Kulal) and advocate Sathish Kumar represented accused no 1 (Devdas Shetty), who stand acquitted.

Public prosecutor, Judith O M Crasta, had argued the case on behalf of the prosecution.