Daniel George
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Another angle being probed is whether individuals harbouring resentment toward the late Muthappa Rai orchestrated the shooting. Police are recording statements from family members and staff as part of the investigation.
Initial findings reveal that after Muthappa Rai’s death, disputes arose within the family between the children of his first and second wives. The matter even reached the High Court. Before his death, Muthappa Rai drafted a will dividing his property among his two children, his brother’s son, his second wife, and some of his workers.
Relatives informed police that multiple individuals hold grudges against Muthappa Rai’s family, and property disputes also persist.
Ricky resides at the Bidadi farmhouse whenever he is in India and also owns a bungalow in the upscale Sadashivanagar locality in Bengaluru.
Ricky had separated from his first wife a native of Tamil Nadu while Muthappa Rai was still alive. His second wife, a Russian national, currently lives abroad with their child. Police have also learned that Ricky spent most of his time overseas.
Investigators are looking into the timing and purpose of Ricky’s return to Bengaluru, probing whether he came to settle any of the ongoing disputes.
Interestingly, the attackers targeted the driver’s seat, possibly assuming that Ricky was driving the vehicle himself, as he often does.
Ricky’s driver Basavaraj told the police “Ricky usually insists on driving himself, he enjoys being behind the wheel. But last night, unexpectedly, he told me to drive,” he recalled. Moments later, gunshots rang out, shattering the calm. “Something struck the right door. Ricky had been hit, his nose was bleeding,”
In February 2020, Rakesh Malli, entrepreneur and once a close aide of Jaya Karnataka organization founder Muthappa Rai, had filed a complaint to the superintendent of police of Dakshina Kannada that he has received threat on his life by Muthappa Rai and his children.
In a two-page complaint filed by Rakesh Malli, he says, "Many years ago, 17.5 acres of land was bought in Bantwal, in the name of me and Muthappa Rai in a partnership deal. The said land was sold to Karunakara Rai, brother of Muthappa Rai later. Though the land is sold, I have not got my share of the money. Now, when I am asking for the same, I am threatened with murder’’ he said in the complaint then.
``In addition, Muthappa Rai, his children and brother have given a contract for Rs 20 lakh to a person of Uttar Pradesh origin to kill me. As there is threat to me, I request you to provide suitable security to me and my family and also do justice by conducting investigation in this matter,” he added.
Sources familiar with the developments said Muthappa Rai had cut off from all his close associates and did not even help them. ``There was a growing resentment from people who were once close to him and they felt left out and neglected after whatever they had done for him’’ said a source.
Muthappa Rai was once one of the most feared names in Bengaluru's underworld during the 1990s, before he reinvented himself as a businessman and socialite. Originally from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada, Rai rose to prominence in the city's crime circles but later claimed to have left that life behind.
Whether this shooting has anything to do with past rivalries, business issues, or something personal no one knows for sure yet. But police say they are not ruling anything out.
The name Muthappa Rai still rings loud in Bengaluru’s underworld history. He was once one of the city’s most feared dons but later claimed to have moved on from his criminal life. He passed away in 2020, but this fresh attack on his son has brought old memories rushing back.
The property row
On October 15, 2024 Muthappa Rai's second wife, Anuradha, reached a property settlement with his sons from his first marriage, Rocky and Ricky Rai, after a protracted legal battle following his death. Anuradha, who had initially disputed the will and distribution of assets, has been granted a substantial portion of the estate as part of the settlement.
After Muthappa Rai's death, his second wife, Anuradha, contested the distribution of his assets as outlined in his will. She claimed ignorance of the will's provisions and sought a larger share.
The dispute escalated into a legal battle, with Anuradha seeking a stay order on the sale of certain properties, which she successfully obtained. Ultimately, an amicable settlement was reached, granting Anuradha a significant share of the estate.
The settlement likely included a substantial portion of Muthappa Rai's wealth, potentially including properties and other assets. The will reportedly stated that Anuradha had already received certain assets during their time together, including gold jewelry, a car, a sum of money, property in HD Kote, and a two-storey building in Sahakar Nagar.
The main parties involved were Muthappa Rai, his second wife Anuradha, and his sons from his first marriage, Rocky and Ricky Rai.