Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
India

Court finds jailed underworld don guilty in BJP leader's murder case

Darpan News Desk IANS, 30 Mar, 2022 11:32 AM
  • Court finds jailed underworld don guilty in BJP leader's murder case

Bengaluru, March 30 (IANS) The Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) Special Court on Wednesday found jailed underworld Don Bannanje Raja, and 8 others guilty in connection with the death of BJP leader and industrialist R.N. Nayak who was killed in a shootout in December 2013, officials said.

The shootout had taken place on December 21, 2013, in Ankola of Uttara Kannada district. It was the first case to registered under KCOCA Act in the state.

Rajendra Shetty a.k.a Bannanje Raja is involved in 44 serious criminal offences including murder, extortion and kidnapping. Authorities had issued an Interpol red corner notice against Bannanje Raja, and he was nabbed in Casablanca in Morocco. Later, he was extradited to Karnataka from there.

Raja, who was named as the 9th accused in the case, was named in several cases in coastal districts of Karnataka, Bengaluru and Maharashtra.

Jagadish Patel from Uttar Pradesh, Abhi Bhandagara from Bengaluru, Ganesh Bhajanthri from Udupi, K.M. Ismail from Kerala, Mahesh Achangi from Hassan, M.B. Santhosh from Kerala, Jagadish Chandraraj from Bengaluru, and Ankit Kumar Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh have also been pronounced guilty in the case.

Special Court judge C.M. Joshi has reserved the order for announcing the quantum of punishment on April 4.

Besides, the court has acquitted some of the accused -- Rabdin Pichai, Mohammad Shabandri and Anand Ramesh Nayak, from the case.

Special Public Prosecutor S.B. Puranik Math and Additional Public Prosecutor Shivaprasad Alva have argued against the accused, representing the prosecution.

Alva has stated that through the judgment the court has sent a good message to the society. "The police and prosecution have successfully persuaded the legal action against anti-social elements."

When asked if he faced any threats since the case involved gangster Bannanje Raja, he said there is no room for it as he has to carry out the responsibilities given by the government.

"This judgment shows that no one is above the law. The law takes its own course. If police and prosecution join hands and pursue the case unitedly, legal action against any criminal element is ensured," he said.

Raja had made an extortion call and demanded protection money from the deceased Nayak. When he refused to pay the money, Raja planned the shootout.

He had called up media houses and claimed that he had got the murder carried out, embarrassing the state and the central investigation agencies.

Various judges have heard the case for over seven years. More than 210 witnesses have recorded their statements. Prosecutors have presented 1,000 pages of documentary proof.

MORE India ARTICLES

Elderly Badal hopeful of triumphant return

Elderly Badal hopeful of triumphant return
Ahead of polling for the Assembly elections, five-time Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said the party is poised for a triumphant return.

Elderly Badal hopeful of triumphant return

Vistara's Amritsar-bound flight makes emergency landing

Vistara's Amritsar-bound flight makes emergency landing
There were 146 passengers onboard the flight when it took off from IGI for Amritsar. The emergency was sounded at runway number 28 of terminal number 2.

Vistara's Amritsar-bound flight makes emergency landing

Punjab will never accept separatist forces: Youth Congress

Punjab will never accept separatist forces: Youth Congress
Charging Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with colluding with separatist forces to attain power, the Youth Congress said Punjab will never accept separatist forces. Youth Congress members tried to take out a march but were stopped by the police just outside their office at Raisina Road.

Punjab will never accept separatist forces: Youth Congress

IED found in rented Delhi home after bomb threats, hunt on for suspects

IED found in rented Delhi home after bomb threats, hunt on for suspects
The house from where the device was recovered belongs to a man named Kasim and he had given it to some people who are now missing. A manhunt has been launched for them.

IED found in rented Delhi home after bomb threats, hunt on for suspects

Modi to inaugurate Asia's largest Bio-CNG plant in Indore on Feb 19

Modi to inaugurate Asia's largest Bio-CNG plant in Indore on Feb 19
The plant will be operated using 100 per cent wet waste, which is estimated to produce around 18,000 kg gas per day. Indore Municipal Corporation has estimated that the amount of Bio-CNG will help to run around 400 buses in the city daily.

Modi to inaugurate Asia's largest Bio-CNG plant in Indore on Feb 19

NCB to probe 25 drug cases suspected to have international links

NCB to probe 25 drug cases suspected to have international links
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently urged states to work jointly with the NCB to unearth the larger conspiracy of drug rackets having national and international links.

NCB to probe 25 drug cases suspected to have international links