Ricky Rai, son of late gangster Muthappa Rai, attacked; Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara says ‘I have asked…’

Ricky Rai, son of former gangster and Jaya Karnataka founder Muthappa Rai, was shot at in Karnataka. The incident took place in early hours of Saturday, around 1:30 am, near his home in Bidadi located in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district, officials said.

Ramanagara SP Srinivas Gowda said Rai is being treated at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.

How did the scene unfold?

The attack happened when Rai was travelling to Bengaluru in his car. The police stated that some unidentified people allegedly opened fire, leading to a bullet striking the vehicle. Rai was seated in the rear beside his gunman, when the bullet pierced through the driver’s seat, wounding both the driver and him.

Case registered

A case has been filed against Muthappa Rai's second wife, Anuradha, entrepreneur Rakesh Malli (once a close associate of Muthappa), and Niketan Trust, and an investigation has begun to arrest the suspect, officials said, adding that they are assessing the CCTV footage and tracking road activity near the crime scene, while also contemplating to question the victim’s gunman and close associates.

The motive behind the firing remains unknown.

Karnataka Home minister aware of the incident

“I was told that the incident happened at 1:30 or 2 am. I have asked for details. He (Ricky) has been admitted to Manipal Hospital and I'm told he is out of danger. Police have begun the investigation at the spot by deploying extra force,” Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated he knows about the incident and asked details from police officials.

Know about Muthappa Rai

Muthappa Rai is a popular name in Bengaluru's underworld history. He was once seen as one of the city’s most powerful personalities before claiming to have left behind his criminal past. He had murdered the then don of Bengaluru, M. P. Jayaraj, in broad daylight in 1990. Muttappa died of brain cancer in 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)