After Aftab, Govt gets 2nd Dawood man courtesy Dubai

From here, he will be flown to Banglore where he will be interrogated about his role in the alleged crimes as well as his links with Dawood Ibrahim.

Considered a terror in South India, Rai is held responsible for initiating the mafia culture in the Karnataka criminal world since fleeing to Dubai two years ago. Two weeks back, Rai was arrested by the Dubai police following a red corner notice (A-632/7-2000) issued by the Interpol on July 11, 2000. The Dubai police informed the New Delhi Interpol, which functions under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and detained him for deportation to India to face trial here.

According to CBI sources, Sharma was also expected to take up the issue of other fugitives who are wanted for crimes in India and are in hiding in UAE with the Dubai authorities. CBI officials say the bilateral relations between UAE and India, as far as criminal matters are concerned, are taking a turn for the better following efforts at the diplomatic level to ensure that fugitives no longer use the two countries as safe hideouts.

The deportation of Aftab Ansari and Raju Anadkar was the first step in this direction. The New Delhi Interpol reciprocated by deporting Roshan Arasid Ansari, a woman wanted in a murder case in UAE, earlier this month.

Speaking to The Indian Express on the phone, a senior Bangalore police officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said Rai shot to fame by murdering Shiv Kumar at Sadashiv Nagar in Bangalore in 1990. Subsequently, he was charged under the arms act, accused of possessing country-made bombs and three swords and attempting to extort Rs 10 lakh from C.D. John, director of St John’s High School and Pharmacy College, Vijay Nagar. The most heinous of all the cases, according to the official, was the murder of real estate agent Subba Raju last year, which Rai is alleged to have masterminded from Dubai.

The CBI’s website, which names Rai as a wanted person, warns international immigration authorities that ‘‘this person may be armed, violent and dangerous.’’ It describes Rai as ‘‘medium built, with long black hair and dark eyes’’.

Nicknamed MR, Rai is said to be fluent in several languages including Kannada, Tulu, English and Hindi. His passport (G710489), issued in Bangalore on January 31, has been revoked.