'Malayali Praveen' detained

City police have detained a notorious criminal under the provisions of Goonda Act as a precautionary measure, to maintain law and order and ensure safety of public.

SR Nagar police have detained VK Praveen, 42, alias Praveen.

He is a rowdy-sheeter of SR Nagar and Wilson Garden Police stations and is involved in more than 24 criminal cases, including kidnapping, attempt to murder, and extortion. The police said he was involved in five attempt to murder, three preparations for dacoity, three kidnaps, three assaults, two dacoity, extortion, three criminal intimidations, two forgeries and cheating cases.

Cases against him are registered in various police stations in the city, including Wilson Garden, SR Nagar, SJ Park, Ulsoor Gate, Jayanagar, Mico Layout, Madivala, Adugodi, Pulikeshinagar and Peenya Police Stations of city. Nelamanagala and Gowribidanur police stations too have cases against him. He had begun his life in crime in 1993.

The police said action under the ordinary laws have so far failed to deter him from indulging in serious bodily crimes against public. The police had submitted the report to detain him. The SR Nagar police inspector served the order in the central prison at Parappana Agrahara on Saturday.

Praveen is under judicial custody and has been detained under the provisions of the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum Grabbers Act, 1985, also known as Goonda Act.