Mandya: A gang of miscreants, who barged into rowdy-sheeter Ashok Pai’s sister’s house at Haralakere village in Maddur taluk of Mandya district on Thursday night in a bid to eliminate him (Pai), have decamped with gold and cash as they could not find Pai in the house.

Pai’s sister Jayalakshmi and her husband Ashwath stay in the house and it is learnt that Pai used to visit them frequently. Assuming that Pai was in the house, the gang of miscreants barged into the house at about 11.30 pm on Thursday after locking the door of the house from outside in which labourers stayed.

After barging into the house, the miscreants threatened Jayalakshmi and her husband and asked them to show where Pai was. When she (Jayalakshmi) said that Pai does not come to the house, the miscreants, armed with machetes ransacked the house and decamped with Rs. 3 lakh cash and 250 grams gold ornaments. In her complaint to the Police, Jayalakshmi has stated that the miscreants were not localites.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dhananjay and Koppa Police visited the house, enquired Jayalakshmi and also pressed the Dog Squad and fingerprint experts into service.

Meanwhile, ASP Dhananjay, who spoke to media persons, said that the family members have stated that the miscreants had come in search of Pai to kill him and when they could not find him (Pai), the miscreants committed dacoity. He further said that the Police have taken the incident seriously and have begun the investigation. A case has been registered at Koppa Police Station.

It may be recalled that in 2016, a gang of miscreants had attacked the house of Pai at Madarahalli in Maddur taluk in a bid to murder him during which Pai had escaped miraculously.

Another attempt on Pai’s life was made a few days later near Mandya RTO Office and here too Pai had escaped. In 2019, the Mandya District Administration had exiled him from the district for six months. 

Pai, who is the prime accused in Jadeja Ravi’s murder, had surrendered to the Police and it is suspected that Jadeja Ravi’s gang members may have made attempts to kill Pai.