Bangalore: A local court today (April 13, 2004) acquitted five people including Muthappa Rai, an alleged underworld don, in a case relating to the murder of a real estate agent here three years ago.

Special Sessions Court Judge A P Murari acquitted Rai and others in the case citing that "the prosecution has failed to prove the conspiracy theory" involving Rai in the murder of Subbaraju, a realtor, in January 2001.

The court sentenced Yousuf Bachkan to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 for involvement in the crime.

Eight people were charged in the sensational murder of the realtor, which had rocked Bangalore, of which two people, Ravi Poojary and Guru Satham, are absconding.

Rai, who had been deported to India in May 2002 from Dubai in a passport related case, was today acquitted in the last of the nine cases against him.