Former underworld don Mutthapa Rai dies of brain cancer in Bengaluru

Former underworld don from Karnakata Mutthapa Rai, who was battling cancer has died on Friday. He was being treated at Manipal hospital for cancer. The former underworld don-turned-social activist was admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru in critical condition.Muthappa Rai, who hailed from Dakshina Kannada district, was reportedly admitted to the hospital on Thursday night.In April this year, the Central Crime Branch officials grilled Rai for two hours over his alleged association with underworld don Ravi Pujari, who was extradited to India from Senegal in February 2020. 

After beginning his career as a bank employee in Bengaluru, Muthappa Rai later opened a dance club and restaurant.He was deported to India in May 2002 from Dubai in connection with a passport case. Muthappa was later interrogated by the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Karnataka Police over his alleged links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. A native of Puttur, Rai later founded ‘Jaya Karnataka’, a not-for-profit organisation.