RN Nayak murder case: Bannanje Raja and 7 others get life imprisonment

Belagavi: The Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA) court in Belagavi, on Monday, has awarded life imprisonment to 8 convicts, including the infamous gangster Bannanje Raja, in the murder case of Ankola’s Businessman and BJP leader RN Nayak.

Last week, the court had delivered the verdict holding 9 of the accused guilty of the crime.

Bannanje Raja of Udupi, Jagadish Patel of Uttar Pradesh, Abjaji Bandugora of Vijayapura, Manjunatha Narayan Bhat of Karkala, Acchangi Mahesh, Santhosh from Sullia, Jagadish Chandra Aras, and Ankith Kumar Kashyap — were sentenced to life imprisonment, whereas KM Ismail of Kerala was sentenced to 5 years rigorous imprisonment.

The court had acquitted 3 accused in the case. Three other accused — Nazim Neelavara of Bhatkal, Haji Amin Basha of Mangaluru, and  Suleiman Zainuddin of Sakleshpura — are still absconding.

Bannanje Raja, had demanded Rs 3 crore as hafta from RN Nayak which he refused. For this reason, Bannanje Raja had got him killed on December 21, 2013.

After investigation, police had named 16 accused in the case. Of which, 13 accused, including Bannanje Raja, have been arrested. Bannanje Raja is the 9th accused in the 500-page charge sheet prepared and submitted to the court by the police.

Presently, Raja is languishing in the Hindalaga jail in Belagavi.

Bannanje Raja has a total of 48 cases of hafta, extortion, murder, and arms offenses in various police stations in Udupi, Mangaluru, Uttara Kannada, Bangalore, Mysuru, and Shivamogga.