The police have arrested Vittal Monappa, a former loyalist of the late underworld figure Muthappa Rai, in connection with the gun attack on Rai’s son, Ricky Rai, last week. Monappa, 53, was apprehended on Thursday evening and has been remanded to police custody for 10 days. Authorities are still investigating whether Monappa acted alone or had an accomplice, as well as his motive for the attack.

Monappa, who had worked as a gunman for Muthappa Rai for nearly three decades, had recently been serving as a gatekeeper at Ricky’s Bidadi residence. The shooting incident occurred in the early hours of April 19 when Ricky, 33, was targeted in his black Toyota Fortuner. The assailant, hiding behind a cement wall, fired a shotgun at Ricky from less than 50 meters away. The bullet tore through the car door, injuring Ricky with one part hitting his arm, another his nose, and two others lodging in the car’s interior.

The police have sent bullet samples for forensic analysis and are investigating possible links between Monappa and four other suspects mentioned in the case. Among the names are Muthappa’s second wife, Anuradha, and a former friend turned enemy, Rakesh Malli. The police also suspect that the attack may have been staged due to discrepancies in the statements given by Ricky’s driver.

Monappa, originally from Madapura near Kodagu, had been involved in violent incidents in the past, including a murder charge in 1993, for which he was later acquitted.