Belagavi: Notorious underworld gangster Bannanje Raja, who was extradited from Morocco in August last year in connection with the murder of an Ankola-based businessman, was produced before Karnataka Organised Crimes Act (KOCA) court in Belagavi along with nine accomplices. A chargesheet against 16 gangsters, including Raja, was submitted by Udupi police to KOCA court last month in connection with their involvement in the murder of R.N. Nayak, a businessman. Raja has been charged with getting Nayak murdered in 2013 and was since then wanted by the state police. He ran an extortion racket from Dubai and is also charged with threatening a Dubai-based businessman Pravin Shetty for ransom. The CBI also had issued a red-corner Interpol alert against him in 2011, but he had continued to be on the run. The police did not produce Raja and his gang members to the court last week due to Raja’s deteriorating health at Hindalga jail. This time the police brought Raja under heavy security.
Of the 16 accused in Nayak's murder, one was shot dead by Nayak’s guard during the incident, while three others have been absconding since then. According to sources, two other accused, Achangi Mahesh and K.N. Islam were not produced before the court. A copy of the chargesheet filed against them by Udupi police was provided to all the accused. The next hearing will be on July 12.
