Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (EP)
Sullia, Oct 5: A high court judge has pronounced a verdict sentencing five of the accused, except one, in the murder case of KVG Medical College Sullia administrator, Professor A S Ramakrishna, which occurred twelve years ago. Last week, the high court had quashed the lower court's judgment that had acquitted all six accused.
The fifth additional Civil and Sessions court had acquitted seven accused, including Dr Renuka Prasad. However, the high court contended that the involvement of Dr Renuka Prasad and others was confirmed by witnesses, declaring all of them guilty of murder and conspiracy. Nevertheless, the high court upheld the acquittal of the seventh accused, H U Nagesh Kumar, as ruled by the lower court. The court had ordered all the accused to be present in court today, and the quantum of punishment would be announced.
Slain Prof A S Ramakrishna & Convict Dr Renukaprasad
They were required to appear before the Puttur fifth additional sessions and district court, which had previously heard their case. However, as the judge was on leave, they had to appear before the in-charge of the sixth additional sessions and district court. Except for Sharan, the others presented themselves in front of the judge at 2.30 pm this afternoon. The high court judge announced the punishment after hearing the case via video conferencing.
Dr Renuka Prasad, Manoj Rai, H R Nagesh, Vaman Poojary, and Bhavani Shanker were sentenced to life imprisonment. The punishment for Sharan, who was not present today, was not announced.
Additionally, Dr Renuka Prasad was fined Rs 10 lacs. This amount will be given to the family of the deceased, Ramakrishna.
Miscreants had attacked Ramakrishna, who was walking on Krishna Ayurvedic Therapy clinic road at 7.45 pm on April 28, 2011, and he was hacked to death. A case in this connection was registered at Sullia police station. Puttur fifth additional district and sessions court had acquitted all seven accused due to a lack of witnesses on October 21, 2016. In 2017, the government filed a criminal review petition at the high court questioning this decision.