Former Underworld Don Muthappa Rai's Property Dispute Settled, Second Wife Awarded Significant Share

The high-profile property dispute following the death of Muthappa Rai, founder of the Jaya Karnataka organization, has finally reached a resolution. Anuradha, Rai’s second wife, had contested the distribution of assets, claiming her rightful share. After a protracted legal battle, an amicable settlement has been reached, granting Anuradha a substantial portion of the estate.

The dispute arose after Rai’s death, despite him having publicly announced the contents of his will prior to his passing. While the will outlined the distribution of his assets, Anuradha, represented by her lawyer, claimed ignorance of its provisions and challenged the arrangement in court.

Rai’s sons from his first marriage, Rocky and Rikki Rai, were named as defendants in the case. They maintained that Anuradha had already received her designated inheritance as per the will, including gold jewelry, a car, a significant sum of money, property in HD Kote, and a two-storey building in Sahakar Nagar. The will reportedly stated that these assets were given to Anuradha during their time together.

The legal battle intensified when Rocky and Rikki attempted to sell certain properties, prompting Anuradha to seek a stay order from the court, which she successfully obtained. The brothers challenged this stay, leading to a protracted legal back-and-forth between the parties. While a lower court eventually lifted the stay, Anuradha appealed the decision in the High Court, prolonging the dispute.

Muthappa Rai’s estate, comprising properties in Bangalore, Devanahalli, Mysore, and Mangalore, is estimated to be worth around Rs 2,000 crores. The legal battle, ongoing since 2020, has finally concluded with Rocky and Rikki agreeing to an equitable division of assets with Anuradha. She is set to receive properties in nine different locations.

Reformed underworld don N Muthappa Rai died battling brain cancer in 2020. He was 68.

Born into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family in Dakshina Kannada’s Puttur town, Rai entered the crime world at a very young age. Karnataka police issued arrest warrants against Rai in eight cases, including murder and conspiracy.

In 2002, Rai was deported to India from the United Arab Emirates. On arrival, he was questioned by various investigation agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), and by the Karnataka police. He was later acquitted due to the lack of evidences.

In his reformed years, Rai founded charitable organisation ‘Jaya Karnataka’. Rai had also appeared in Tulu film ‘Kanchilda Baale’ in 2011 and Kannada film ‘Katari Veera Surasundarangi’ in 2012.

After his cancer diagnosis, Rai withdrew from public life and resigned from Jaya Karnataka.