Mangaluru, Karnataka – The body of B M Mumtaz Ali, the younger brother of former Karnataka MLA Mohideen Bava, was discovered in the Phalguni River mouth on Monday following a 12-hour search operation by authorities. Ali, 52, was reported missing on Sunday morning, with his abandoned and severely damaged car found near the Kulur Bridge, according to police sources.
Ali, a prominent businessman and chairman of the Misbah Group of Educational Institutions, was well-known in his local community. He was last seen leaving his residence in his vehicle at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, roaming the city before parking his car near the Kulur Bridge around 5 a.m. His final communication raised concerns, prompting his daughter to immediately alert the local authorities.
The search for Ali intensified with the involvement of multiple teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local fire departments. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal confirmed that the body was found on Monday morning at around 10:15 a.m. after the search operation resumed at 6 a.m. The body has since been transferred to AJ Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Blackmail and Extortion Allegations Surface
As the investigation progresses, police have uncovered allegations that Ali had been subjected to blackmail for the past several months. According to reports from his family, a group of individuals, including a woman, had threatened and extorted money from Ali, demanding that he pay large sums of money under the threat of releasing compromising videos. Ali is believed to have paid ₹50 lakh to the blackmailers but faced increasing pressure to pay more.
An FIR had been filed at the Kavoor police station against six individuals accused of extorting and blackmailing Ali. In light of Ali’s death, police have now added abetment to suicide charges to the case. All six suspects are currently on the run, with police actively searching for them.
Commissioner Agarwal addressed the media, stating, “Based on the family’s complaint, we registered a case under sections of extortion. After recovering the body, we have added the section of abetment to suicide. Our teams are working diligently to apprehend the accused.”
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected as police continue to pursue leads in the case. Ali’s death has left the local community shocked, with many mourning the tragic loss of a respected businessman and educator.
Sources By Agencies
