Bangalore: Century Group Managing Director and real estate baron Dayananda Pai had a narrow escape when two unidentified youth opened fire at his car near Ramakrishna Ashram at Basavanagudi in Bangalore on the evening of October 16, Tuesday.

As Pai was travelling in a bullet proof car, both he and his driver were unhurt. A business rivalry is suspected to be the cause of the attack. It is learnt Pai was on way to the BMS College  near Bull Temple when two youth who approached the car and opened fire as the car reached Ramakrishna Ashram junction.

Pai told the media that  at first he thought that his car was stoned and later realized that it was an attempt on his life. He also suspected the role of notorious rowdy sheeter Hebbett Manja behind the attack. Sources said Pai had a dispute with  Manja over a land near Devanahalli which Pai had fenced while Manja claimed that the  land belonged to poor families.

City  Police Commissioner B G Jyothi Prakash Mirji informed that Pai had received a call from Manja the same evening  asking him to settle matter and later again called to say he had asked Dayanand Pai’s brother Satish Pai to settle the land matter. He had also threatened to teach a lesson to Pai for ignoring his words, the Commissioner said.

The case has been handed over to CCB for investigation. Earlier, Pai had complained that he received threat calls from Dubai and had  bought a bullet proof car for his travel