Nettala Muthappa Rai Derla[1] (known as Muthappa Rai (M. R)) (died 15 May 2020)[5][6] was an Indian underworld don, businessman, philanthropist and a social activist based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.[7][8]
N. Muthappa Rai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Nettala Muthappa Rai Derla[1] 1 May[2] Puttur, Karnataka, India |
| Died | 15 May 2020 Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, Gangster |
| Spouses |
|
| Parent(s) | N. Narayana Rai (Father) Susheela Rai (Mother)[4] |
Personal life
Rai was born in Puttur, Karnataka, into a Tulu-speaking Bunt[9][10] family of Nettala Narayana Rai and Susheela Rai. He was married to Rekha and has two sons. His wife Rekha died at Mt Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore in 2013.[11] Rai made his appearance in a Tulu movie Kanchilda Baale in 2011.[12]
Starting his career as a clerk in Vijaya Bank, Muthappa claimed to have accidentally turned to a life of crime in Bengaluru to protect his business — a bar and restaurant — from the onslaught of the underworld in 1980s.[13] He is also the founder of Jaya Karnataka a not-for-profit organisation that aims at improving the quality of life of the people of Karnataka.[14]
Involvement in crime
In the late 1980s, Rai came in contact with Bengaluru’s underworld and became an overnight sensation after he murdered the then don of Bengaluru, M. P. Jayaraj, in broad daylight in 1990. That murder elevated him to the "post" of a mafia boss and he never looked back.[15]
The Karnataka police had issued warrants of arrest against Rai in eight cases under Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act. The murder of a realtor, Subbaraju, in January 2001 by hired killers from Mumbai followed a dispute over a prime property in Bangalore.[8][16]
In 2002 he was interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Research and Analysis Wing, Intelligence Bureau and Karnataka police.[17] Due to lack of substantial information on his career in crime, for allegedly operating extortion rackets, helping property developers, taking possession of land in prime localities and collecting 'protection money' from business houses in Karnataka, through his links with Dawood Ibrahim, he was later acquitted.[8]
Death
In a press meeting in January 2020, Rai had announced that he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He went on to die from brain cancer on 15 May 2020.[5]
Popular culture
A biopic titled Rai on the life of Muthappa Rai is being written and directed by Ram Gopal Varma. It is to be filmed in Mangalore, Bangalore, Mumbai, Dubai and London.[2][18][19]
References
- ^ a b "Muthappa Rai Donates Brahmaratha to Lord Mahalingeshwara". www.mangaloretoday.com. Mangalore, Karnataka, India: Mangalore Today. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ a b Shekhar H Hooli (20 April 2016). "Vivek Oberoi to play Muthappa Rai in Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rai'". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Muthappa Rai enters into wedlock with Bengaluru businesswoman". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Muthappa's parents seek security". TNN. 31 May 2002. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b BP, Darshan Devaiah (15 May 2020). "Former underworld don Muthappa Rai passes away in Bengaluru". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "ಭೂಗತ ಲೋಕದ ಮಾಜಿ ಡಾನ್ ಮುತ್ತಪ್ಪ ರೈ ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲ". vijaykarnataka.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Latha Srinivasan (1 November 2015). "Muthappa Rai: Here's a look at the". DNA. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b c Scott Carney (20 October 2008). "The Godfather of Bangalore". WIRED. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Sreedhar, Agni (2013). My Days in The Underworld Rise of the Bangalore Mafia. Westland, 2013. p. 481. ISBN 9789383260348.
- ^ "Muthappa Rai, underworld don turned realtor, passes away". The Indian Express. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ "Mangalore: Muthappa Rai's wife Rekha dies in Singapore". Daijiworld Media Network. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Hari Anand (27 November 2010). "Muttappa Rai enters Silver Screen!!". ICARE Live News Network, Bangalore. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Bharadwaj, Aditya (15 May 2020). "Muthappa Rai dead at 68". Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "About Jaya Karnataka". Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Bengaluru's 'Last' Mafia Don Muthappa Rai Succumbs to Cancer, Goes to His Grave Claiming He Was a Patriot". News18. 15 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Ravi Sharma (2002). "Now, elusive evidence". Frontline. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Muthappa Rai brought to Bangalore". The Hindu. 31 May 2002. Archived from the original on 7 June 2002. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Vivek Oberoi to play gangster Muthappa Rai in RGV's crime drama". Hindustan Times. Press Trust of India. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Ram Gopal Varma's next 'Rai' to star Vivek Oberoi". The Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 16 April 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.