Karnataka to seek extradition of don Bannanje Raja

The Karnataka government is seeking to get wanted underworld don Rajendra Kumar alias Bannanje Raja extradited from Morocco where he was arrested Feb 10 for allegedly travelling on a fake passport from Dubai, a senior official said Thursday.

"We can confirm that he (Raja) was arrested at Casablanca Tuesday and is under the Moroccan custody. Efforts are on to get him extradited through the central government, as he is wanted in many criminal cases in Karnataka," a state home ministry official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told IANS.

Earlier, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official from New Delhi said it was for the state government to initiate steps to get Raja back to India by submitting the relevant documents in support of the criminal cases registered against him.

"Raja was arrested by the Moroccan authorities on the basis of a red corner notice issued by the Interpol. He was first detained for travelling to Morocco from Dubai on a fake passport," an official of the investigating agency told IANS.

State Home Minister K.J. George held a meeting here with top officials, including Director General of Police (DGP) Lalrokhuma Pachau, to discuss the issue of Raja's extradition from Morocco.

"We will provide whatever information is required by the state and central governments on Raja, as he is wanted in many criminal cases in Dakshina Kannada district," Mangaluru Police Commissioner S. Murugan told IANS.

The 43-year-old Raja is suspected to have been involved in the murder of businessman R.N. Nayak) at Ankola in Uttara Kannada district Dec 21, 2013 and well-known builder Subba Rao in Mangaluru July 30, 2007.