Gangster-turned social worker Muthappa Rai gets CCB notice over dangerous ‘Ayudha’ Puja

Bengaluru, Oct 20: Gangster-turned-social worker N Muthappa Rai, who sought to intimidate his rivals with a display of lethal weapons during recent Ayudha Puja is in the dock as the Organised Crime Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) has issued a notice directing him to appear before officials.

Rai, who recently took over as president of the Karnataka Athletics Association had posted a video on social media performing a puja in front of a cache of arms and weapons. This was done on the occasion of Ayudha Puja on Thursday.

Mr. Rai, who also heads the non-profit organisation Jaya Karnataka, was seen in the video with long guns and machetes. The video went viral on social media.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Organised Crime Wing issued the notice to Mr. Rai on Friday, seeking an explanation and the documents needed to own theweapons.

“We have issued a notice to the person concerned asking why action cannot be taken against him for the display of weapons,” said Alok Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime).

Another senior police officer suggested that the motive behind the display of the weapons would be to induce fear in the general public and that such an act is punishable under the Arms Act.