Mangaluru: Nearly six years after an armed robbery involving a migrant worker in Panambur, a local court has sentenced two men to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each.

The conviction relates to a robbery case registered at Panambur police station in 2020, in which a worker was allegedly intercepted by two men travelling on a scooter and threatened with an iron rod before his mobile phone was snatched.

Worker robbed on way to work

According to the case details, the incident occurred at around 7 am on November 16, 2020.

The complainant, Govind Kumar, a native of Asatol village in Bihar’s Bagalpur district, was walking to work behind the Deepak Petrol Pump in Panambur. He was travelling along the road leading towards the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) main administrative office.

While he was on his way, two men allegedly arrived on a scooter and intercepted him.

The accused were identified as Javid Akhtar alias Akhtar, 28, son of Shamsuddin and a resident of Porkodi in Kenjar village, and Thoyid Khadar alias Thoyi, 24, son of Anwar and a resident of Kasba Bengre.

The duo allegedly brandished an iron rod and threatened Kumar before forcibly taking his mobile phone. The stolen mobile phone was valued at approximately Rs 5,000.

After allegedly committing the robbery, the two men fled from the spot on the scooter.

Police arrest accused next day

Following Kumar’s complaint, Panambur police registered a case under Crime No. 56/2020. The offences invoked included Sections 392 and 397 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The police launched an investigation into the robbery and traced the accused.

According to the case details, the then Panambur police inspector Ajmath Ali arrested the two accused on November 17, 2020, a day after the incident.

Police also recovered the stolen property during the investigation. Following their arrest, the accused were produced before the JMFC-II Court.

The investigating team subsequently completed the investigation and filed the chargesheet before the court.

Trial concludes after transfer

The judicial proceedings initially commenced before the 4th Additional District and Sessions Court. The case was later transferred to the Additional District and Sessions Court (FTSC-1) for trial.

The matter was taken up as Sessions Case No. 84/2021.

During the proceedings, the prosecution presented its case concerning the alleged interception of Kumar, the use of an iron rod to threaten him and the subsequent theft of his mobile phone.

The recovery of the stolen property and other evidence gathered during the police investigation formed part of the case presented before the court.

Court convicts duo

Pronouncing the judgment on September 16, 2026, Judge Mohan J S found Javid Akhtar and Thoyid Khadar guilty under Section 392 read with Section 34 of the IPC.

The court sentenced both accused to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each.

The verdict brings the judicial proceedings in the 2020 Panambur robbery case to a conclusion at the trial court level.

Public Prosecutor Badrinath Naiyari represented the prosecution during the proceedings and argued the case on behalf of the state.

The case involved an alleged daylight robbery in which a worker was threatened with an iron rod and deprived of his mobile phone. The conviction followed the investigation, recovery of the stolen property and subsequent trial before the sessions court.