Ricky Rai shootout: SIM-less mobile used as torch shocks police

In a startling twist to the recent shootout near Bidadi, involving Ricky Rai, son of former don Muthappa Rai, investigators have uncovered a bizarre and calculated plan by the shooters. A basic mobile phone without a SIM card—found at the crime scene—has revealed a surprising detail in the ongoing probe by the Bidadi and Ramanagara police.

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Initially dismissed as irrelevant, the SIM-less phone turned out to be a key part of the shooters' strategy. According to police sources, the attackers, lying in wait for Ricky Rai under the cover of darkness, used the phone not for communication but as a torch. This makeshift light source helped them operate in the dark without drawing suspicion.

The attack occurred at a distance of approximately 50 meters from Rai’s farmhouse. During the forensic examination, gunshot marks and shell casings were recovered. Experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) confirmed that a countrymade twelve bore short gun was used in the attack.

The close-range firing capability of the weapon, effective between 40 and 60 meters, aligns with the evidence collected at the scene. The shooter reportedly fired from just 50 meters away, ensuring lethal accuracy.

The police and FSL teams are continuing their investigation, piecing together the assailants’ movements and methods. Meanwhile, suspicions are also rising around Ricky Rai himself, hinting at deeper layers in this already complex case.