Rs 100 crore ‘Hafta’ collected even when locked up in jail!

Team Udayavani, Jan 25, 2019, 2:58 AM IST

Suspicion: Either an associate or it was collected by someone else in the name of Bannanje Raja

Mangaluru: Underworld element Bannanje Raja who is presently incarcerated at Hindalaga jail in Belagavi has apparently collected a ‘Hafta’ of Rs 100 crore even while being imprisoned, inform sources in the police.

According to official sources, the amount has been collected from rich businessmen in DK, Udupi districts in the span of one year in the name of Bannanje Raja.

Bannanja Raja is under incarceration since the last four years in connection to various cases. In this backdrop, only investigation will reveal if the amount has been collected by Bannanje Raja through his associates or if his associates or someone else has made use of his name and collected the amount as hafta. Raja has been imprisoned since 2015, but he has his associates in the country as well as in abroad. There is suspicion that he has a very close contact with his associates from the jail itself.

Once again underworld activities

Underworld activities have once again risen in the undivided DK district and the police are receiving enough complaints. Underworld elements like Ravi Poojary, Kali Yogish and others send their associates to collect hafta through intimidation. If some give police complaint, a few more give the money and maintain silence.

A few weeks back, a businessman in Mangaluru had received a threat call from Ravi Poojary. The businessman had also given a complaint to the police and investigation was conducted, inform sources. After the occurrence of shootout at Sanjeeva Shetty silk and sarees store on Dec 14 2017, there has been no report on underworld activity. But there is suspicion that it is occurring from within. A few businessmen have requested for police protection. A vigil is being maintained for the underworld elements, inform police sources.

48 cases on Bannanje Raja

Bannanje Raja has several cases booked against him including 1 each at Mangaluru Barke and Kadri station, 2 in Pandeshwar, 2 each in Manipal and Udupi stations, 1 each in Mysuru, Shimoga station, 6 cases at various stations in Bengaluru. The resolution of 6 cases remain at various stations in Uttara Kannada. Altogether there are 48 cases registered against him in connection to protection money, extortion, murder and arms act. One of the important cases includes murder of Uttara Kannada BJP leader and businessman R N Nayak in 2013.

Raja was arrested in Morocco on Aug 14^th 2015 and brought to India. After presenting him before a special court in Belagavi, he was brought to Udupi and Mangaluru for interrogation.

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