Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 6: In a significant judgment, the Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court of Mangaluru has acquitted all the accused in the homestay illegal raid case of 2012.

Judge Kantharaju delivered the verdict on Tuesday, August 6, stating that the accused were found not guilty due to insufficient evidence.

Among the total 44 accused, three had passed away during the proceedings, and journalist Naveen Soorinje had been discharged from the case earlier.

File photos

The court has now cleared the remaining 40 accused of all charges. The defense team, consisting of lawyers Shambhu Sharma and Kishore Kumar, presented their arguments in favour of the accused.

Background

On July 28, 2012, activists from the Hindu Jagarana Vedike, affiliated with the Sangh Parivar, allegedly attacked a birthday party at an unlicensed homestay in Mangaluru.

The 12 individuals at the party, including five girls, were reportedly beaten, stripped, and molested. Some of the girls had their faces blackened. The activists claimed the youngsters were consuming alcohol and engaging in "indecent activities."

In response, hundreds of locals, including women, staged protests, complaining that the police had failed to address "illegal activities" at the homestay despite receiving multiple complaints.

It was alleged that Hindu Jagarana Vedike President Jagadish Karanth demanded a crackdown on such "obscene activities."

Parts of the attack were captured on camera by a reporter at the scene and were broadcast on various news channels.