Sullia: Bellare police have arrested a man who had been absconding and failing to appear before the court in connection with a house theft case. The accused was later produced before the court, which sentenced him to imprisonment and imposed fines under multiple legal provisions.
The arrested person has been identified as Sharath S (24), a resident of Neriya in Beltangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district.
According to police sources, Sharath had been accused in a house theft case but had failed to attend court hearings, prompting authorities to treat him as absconding. Acting on this, the Bellare police traced and arrested him before producing him before the court for further proceedings.
Court awards jail term in theft case
After hearing the case, the court found the accused guilty and delivered its judgment under the relevant sections of the law.
Under Section 457 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with lurking house trespass or house-breaking by night, the court sentenced Sharath to six months’ simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹500.
In addition, under Section 380 of the IPC, which pertains to theft in a dwelling house, the court sentenced him to 10 months’ simple imprisonment and imposed another fine of ₹500.
The court also ordered that if the accused fails to pay the imposed fines, he will have to undergo an additional 10 days of imprisonment.
Additional case for skipping court hearings
Apart from the theft charges, the accused also faced legal action for failing to appear before the court during earlier hearings.
Since Sharath had absconded and did not attend court proceedings despite summons, a separate case was registered against him under Section 269 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In this case, the court ordered the accused to pay a penalty of ₹1,000. If he fails to pay the amount, he will have to undergo 10 days of additional imprisonment.
Police officials said that such action is taken to ensure that accused persons comply with court procedures and do not evade legal proceedings.
Investigation and prosecution
The investigation in the theft case was carried out by Sub-Inspector Santosh B P, who gathered the necessary evidence and completed the procedural requirements before submitting the final report to the court.
During the trial, Assistant Public Prosecutor Preethi M C represented the prosecution and presented arguments before the court, which ultimately led to the conviction of the accused.
Police officials said the arrest and conviction highlight the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies to track down accused persons who attempt to evade the legal process.
Conclusion
Authorities have reiterated that individuals involved in criminal cases must comply with court procedures, and strict action will be taken against those who attempt to abscond or delay judicial proceedings.
The Bellare police stated that they will continue to monitor pending cases and ensure that accused persons appear before courts as required by law.