Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Updated
Udupi, Oct 15: In a much-awaited judgement, the Udupi district sessions court on Thursday October 15 convicted three accused in the 2013 Manipal gang-rape case and sentenced them to rigorous life imprisonment.
Two others were also convicted for destruction of evidence and sentenced to three years in jail. However, hours after the judgement, they managed to secure bail from the same court.
The main accused Yogish Poojary, Hariprasad Poojary and Anand were sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping, issuing life threat and raping the girl, a medical student in Manipal, on the night of June 20, 2013.
Also, the three have been told to pay a fine of Rs one lac each for gang-rape, Rs 5,000 each for issuing life threat and another Rs 5,000 each for kidnapping.
Two others - Balachandra (brother of Yogish) and Harindra (brother of Hariprasad) - were found guilty of destroying evidence. Apart from jail term of three years, each of them was also told to pay Rs 5,000 as fine.
Judge Shivashankar B pronounced the judgement and the quantum of punishment.
Speaking to reporters, public prosecutor T S Jithuri hailed the verdict and said, "This judgement was awaited from two-and-a-half years. The court has given the maximum punishment in the case. Let this be a lesson to others who indulge in such crimes. This is an excellent judgement. As the public prosecutor, I fought this case not only for the victim, but for the society as well."
He also thanked police officials like former SP Boralingaiah and Manipal SI Sadanand Tippannavar and other officers who gathered sufficient evidence in the case.
Case Recall: