04-05-2025
Underworld operative Bannaje Raja on parole in Udupi
Underworld operative Bannaje Raja alias Rajendra Shettigar, who is serving life imprisonment in Belagavi Central Prison, came to his native Udupi on Sunday, following grant of emergency parole by the Karnataka High Court.
Raja's father Sundar Shettigar, a retired tahsildar, passed away on April 27. The seventh day last rites rituals was held at Raja's ancestral house in Bapu Tota of Malpe on Sunday. Raja was brought in a heavily guarded police convoy from Belagavi to Malpe on Sunday. Police were in big numbers at Raja's house.
In a video statement, Udupi Superintendent of Police K. Arun said Karnataka High Court granted emergency parole to Raja from May 3 to May 14 to take part in last rite rituals of his father. Among the conditions imposed by the High Court include, direction to Raja to remain confined to the house in Malpe, except for visits outside for rituals. He has also been asked not to take part in any criminal activity. Raja has been barred from using mobile phone or internet. At the end of parole on May 14, Raja will be taken back to Belagavi Prison, Mr. Arun stated.
The Belagavi district Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) court, on April 4, 2022, had sentenced Bannanje Raja and seven others to life imprisonment for the murder of R.N. Nayak, a mining industrialist, in Ankola of Uttara Kannada disrict in 2013.
