Muthappa Rai allowed to keep weapons for three months

Karnataka High Court on Monday has allowed former gangster Muthappa Rai to keep the weapons with him for a period of three months. While hearing the petition filed by N Muthappa Rai, justice Abdul Nazeer said that he can continue with the same private security while an interim stay has been given to the order pertaining surrendering of weapons during election time specially to Rai.

Last week Muthappa Rai had filed a petition seeking police protection since he claims to have threats from underworld. Since the police has asked the gun license holders to surrender the arms as per election norms Rai had requested the High Court either to permit him keep the weapons or he should be provided police protection and is ready to bear the cost of protection by himself. . The court said that he can keep the weapons on cetain conditions. If he indulges in any anti-social activity police has all the rights to seize the weapons, the court said.

He had also informed the court that he had received protection in the last Loksabha elections. The petitioner also said that in 1993 while he was being transferred from Mysore Central jail to Bangalore jail he was fired. Similarly in 2002 also there were similar threats. He also informed the court he has dissociated himself from the underworld long back.
mybangalore@dnaindia.net