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As per sources, The-68-year old was admitted to Manipal Hospital here in the city and died during treatment on Friday morning. Rai is survived by two sons.
He had been battling from cancer for the last two years and was admitted to the hospital on April 30 due to serious illness.
Born into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family in Dakshina Kannada’s Puttur town, Rai entered the crime world at a very young age.
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In 2002, Rai was deported to India from the United Arab Emirates. On arrival, he was questioned by various investigation agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), and by the Karnataka police. He was later acquitted due to the lack of evidence.
In his reformed years, Rai founded the charitable organization ‘Jaya Karnataka’.
Rai has appeared in Tulu film ‘Kanchilda Baale’ in 2011 and Kannada film ‘Katari Veera Surasundarangi’ in 2012.
Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma wanted to make a movie based on Rai’s life. The film roped in actor Vivek Oberoi for the lead role and was shot in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Dubai, and London. However, it has not been released due to production delays.
Rai was enthusiastic about the film and even celebrated his birthday with Varma and Oberoi.
After his cancer diagnosis, Rai withdrew from public life and resigned from Jaya Karnataka.
His last rites are likely to be performed at Bidadi on Friday, family sources said.