Udupi Aug.29: Udupi-based underworld don Bannanje Raja was remanded to police custody till 11 September, 2015 by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Nagajyothi at Udupi in relation to the firing at Airody Jewellery shop in 2011. Earlier today Bannanje Raja was produced before the special court in Belagavi in relation to Ankola businessman R.N. Nayak’s murder case, which remanded him to judicial custody till September 11.

The cases against Raja filed in Brahmavar, Malpe and Manipal police stations will be investigated later. Police are expected to take custody of him again for this and lawyer Amar from Bengaluru is representing Raja as per sources.

Speaking with the media persons at Udupi, K. Annamalai, Superintendent of Police Udupi district said that the investigation in the murder case had not been completed and Udupi Police had not sought an extension of Bananje Raja’s police custody. He will be under judicial customy in the Hindalga jail.

He will now be housed in the Central Prison at Hindalga, where the other accused involved in the murder of Ankola businessman R N Nayak are serving time.

Raja, who was under the Udupi police custody, was brought to Belagavi and produced before the Principal District and Sessions Judge P Krishna Bhat who remanded him in judicial custody after Udupi Superintendent of Police Annamalai K, in his submission before the court which is holding an in camera hearing, said that as of now there was no need for extending the police custody.

Briefing the media, Annamalai said the investigation in the murder case had not been completed, but the Udupi police had not sought an extension of Raja’s police custody. Raja will be housed in the Hindalga jail.

However, the gangster faces several criminal cases in various places across the State, including Shivamogga, Kodagu, Mangaluru, Mysuru and Bengaluru. The police authorities of the jurisdictions concerned could seek his custody for further investigation.

Annamalai said eight accomplices of the gangster were behind bars, two of them in the Kalaburagi jail. Bannanje is the ninth accused among eleven, he said.

Earlier in the day, Bannanje was brought from Udupi to Belagavi under tight police security. The judge who took up the case immediately ordered an in camera hearing. The court hall was jampacked with curious advocates and journalists, but they had to leave the hall following the order.

Bannanje was extradited from Morocco to India on August 16.