Mangaluru: The Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the murder of Rakesh, who was hacked to death near MV Shetty College on Panjimogaru–Maladi Road on January 3, 2019. The court also convicted a fourth accused and sentenced him to imprisonment for offences related to destruction of evidence and harbouring an offender.
Judge Rajesh Maruthi Kamate pronounced the judgment following a detailed trial in the murder case, which was registered at Kavoor Police Station.
Those sentenced to life imprisonment are Sunil Kumar alias Kouti, Praveen Poojary alias Chotu and Preetham alias Abhi. The fourth accused, Rohith Kamath alias Shooter, was also convicted in the case and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Murder linked to alleged love affair
According to the police investigation, the murder was allegedly motivated by Rakesh’s relationship with the sister of the first accused, Sunil Kumar alias Kouti.
The prosecution’s case was that the accused conspired to eliminate Rakesh over the relationship. Rohith Kamath alias Shooter allegedly joined hands with the other accused, and Rakesh was hacked to death with a sword near MV Shetty College on Panjimogaru–Maladi Road on January 3, 2019.
The incident led to the registration of a murder case at Kavoor Police Station. The police invoked Sections 302 (murder), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender) and 212 (harbouring an offender), read with Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.
Following the investigation, the police filed a chargesheet against the four accused, setting the stage for the trial.
Court convicts all four accused
After examining the evidence and hearing the arguments during the trial, the Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court found all four accused guilty.
The court sentenced Sunil Kumar, Praveen Poojary and Preetham to life imprisonment for the murder of Rakesh. Each of the three men was also directed to pay a fine of Rs 15,000.
In addition to the punishment for murder, all four accused were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment under Section 201, read with Section 34 of the IPC, for destruction of evidence. Each was also fined Rs 5,000 under this provision.
The fourth accused, Rohith Kamath, was separately sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 under Section 212 of the IPC for harbouring an offender.
The court ordered that all the sentences run concurrently. This means the imprisonment terms imposed under the different provisions will be served simultaneously rather than consecutively.
Rs 50,000 compensation for victim’s father
The court also issued directions regarding the distribution of the fine amount imposed in the case.
Of the total fine of Rs 70,000, Rs 20,000 has been ordered to be remitted to the government, while the remaining Rs 50,000 will be paid to Rakesh’s father.
The direction provides for a portion of the amount collected through fines to be paid to the victim’s family.
The judgment brings the trial proceedings in the 2019 murder case to a conclusion, with all four accused convicted and sentenced for the offences established before the court.
Public prosecutor represents prosecution
Public Prosecutor Motilal Chowdary represented the prosecution during the trial.
KR Naik, Police Inspector of Kavoor Police Station, served as the investigating officer and handled the investigation that culminated in the filing of the chargesheet against the accused.
The case, relating to a murder committed in January 2019, was taken up for detailed judicial examination before the Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru.
With the conviction of all four accused, the court has pronounced sentences covering the murder, destruction of evidence and harbouring of an offender.