Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 10: The first additional district and sessions court here has convicted an accused in a case relating to the murder of a man who failed to pay Rs 100 as agreed after luring him for gay sex. After hearing arguments on the quantum of punishment on Friday June 9, the judge sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.

Rajesh alias Rathish alias Raja (26), residing in Leela Compound, Kunjathbail Devinagara in the city has been held guilty of the murder charge. He had been charged with the murder of Sundara Poojary from Kujuma Gadde in Kolya, near Ullal Someshwar on January 20, 2012. The judgment was delivered on Tuesday January 6.

Sundar Poojary, who had left his home on January 20, 2012 for bringing vegetables from Central Market in the city, had gone missing under mysterious circumstances. Later, the body of a male, who was murdered by tightening a banian around his neck, was found from a deserted well near Dobhi Ghat, Raiklway Gate, Old Kent Road, on January 28 the same year. The police concluded the body to be belonging to Sundar Poojary after comparing details.

The police who undertook investigation, arrested the accused on February 5, 2012. inspector of Pandeshwar station, Tolakchandra, who registered the case and conducted investigation, filed charge sheet in the court.

First additional district and sessions judge, B K Nayak, after examining witnesses and verifying evidences, found Rajesh guilty, through a judgment delivered on January 6. The quantum of sentence ordered on Friday are rigorous life imprisonment for murder apart from fine of Rs 10,000. In case of failure to pay fine, imprisonment of one additional year will accrue. For engaging in unnatural sex, five years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 2,000 have been imposed. In case of failure to pay this fine, the guilty will have to remain inside jail for an additional term of six months. For looting, one year rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 1,000 have been prescribed. For destruction of evidence by way of tossing the body into well, two years rigorous imprisonment has been decided.

It is said that Sundar Poojary, who bought vegetables from a vendor in Central Market and kept his bag there, enticed Rajesh to have sex with him, by promising to pay Rs 100. After using Rajesh for gratifying his sexual urge among a thicket at Dhobi Ghat area, Sundar Poojary failed to pay the promised sum. Angered by this betrayal, Rajesh pushed Sundar Poojary down, suffocated him by tying an old banian lying nearby around his neck, and then tossing the lifeless body into a deserted well nearby. Rajesh had also collected cellphone, a ladies watch, and Rs 20 found on the body of Sundar before leaving for home.

The judge relied on recovery of above stolen items from Rajesh's possession, and the statement of a railway contract worker named Papachchan, who stated that he had seen both the above walking by the railway tracks near Dhobi Ghat that day, and that only Rajesh had returned later, as sufficient to prove guilt of the accused.