4-member gang fires at Mantri office in Bangalore

The weekend mood was shattered on Saturday evening when a four-member gang on two motorcycles fired at Mantri Developers’ head office on Vittal Mallya Road. No one was injured though six rounds were fired at the company’s office at around 8.45pm.

Eye-witnesses said the four youths first arrived on the scene and asked one of the security guards for Sushil Mantri, the chairman and managing director, Mantri Developers, a leading builder who is also the sponsor of the ongoing Karnataka Premier League (KPL).

On being told that Mantri was not in the building three of the youths pulled out firearms and fired a total of six bullets at the office board displaying the company name, and around it.

The police said while one bullet hit the board, the remaining five harmlessly hit a window and the building.

One of the four suspected to have been involved in the firing was arrested later by the South-East division police at a check-post in Hulimavu, set up to check drink driving. While the police nabbed the rider, the pillion managed to make good his escape while the police were questioning his partner.

The name of the arrested man has been withheld to ensure smooth investigations. The police suspect Ravi Poojary’s gang to be behind the firing as they found an envelope with a letter saying “Contact RP” along with an international phone number.

Interestingly, just last month, Sushil Mantri had reportedly received a threatening call demanding money. Police said Mantri has been receiving phone calls from Ravi Poojary’s gang members over the last one year. Mantri had complained to Cubbon Park police, after which security was provided to him. Six security guards were present in the Mantri office building when the firing took place.
Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (Crime) told DNA that the city police have relayed a message to Interpol to arrest Ravi Poojary.

Poojary, according to sources in Mangalore police, is holed up in Australia at present. The police pressed sniffer dogs into service and collected evidences including empty cartridges of the bullets fired at the site.

Ravi Poojary is alleged to be an underworld don from Mangalore, known to be operating from foreign countries. According to the police, he has been targeting leading builders and businessmen, demanding a cut from their profits after threatening them. His prowess in 'dealing' with hafta collectors reportedly impressed international underworld don Chota Rajan, whose business he ran when Rajan faced threat from Dawood Ibrahim’s lieutenant Chota Shakeel