Mangaluru: Bannanje Raja acquitted in 3 shootout cases

The 3rd Additional District and Sessions Court of Mangaluru has acquitted Bannanje Raja in three separate shootout cases. The court, presided over by Third Additional District and Sessions Judge Basappa Balappa Jakati, has cleared Bannanjeraja of all charges, following a trial.

The first case dates back to the year 2000, in which Bannanje Raja and his accomplices were accused of attacking Irvin Pinto and his wife, who were returning home from a wedding ceremony. The second case was registered in 2004, when Bannanje Raja allegedly shot at the office of the owner of Rohan Corporation, Rohan Monteiro, and demanded money. The third case, registered in 2011, involved the shooting at Suresh Bhandari, the owner of Prithvi Developers and Builders, while he was in a car with his wife and daughter.

Bannanje Raja was arrested in 2015 in the African country of Morocco where he had been hiding and handed over to India. The police conducted additional investigations and filed additional charge sheets against him in all the cases registered against him.

After a thorough trial, the court acquitted Bannanje Raja of all charges. Advocate Rajesh Kumar Amtadi of PP Hegde Associates represented the accused in court, arguing in his favor.