Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Oct 31: In connection with the murder of Jayaraj (27) from Bajal Jalligudde at the central railway station here four years ago, Maltesha alias Mohan alias Tikki Mohan (31) from Tevarateppa in Sagar taluk, was found guilty by the sixth district additional and sessions court here. Through a judgement delivered on Tuesday October 30, the court sentenced him to eight years of rigorous imprisonment besides levying a fine of Rs 5,000.
Maltesha, who was working as bus conductor, and Jayaraj, a coolie, were friends. They used to join together for activities like pick-pocketing, ganja and consumption of liquor. On the night of October 1, 2014, they had fought over some issue, at the end of which Maltesha had killed Jayaraj with a knife before escaping. The railway police had registered a case of murder by unidentified person.
The railway police had arrested Maltesha from the home of his grandparents at Guddekoppa in Sorab taluk after a gap of three weeks. Railway police inspector, Taranath, investigated the case and filed charge sheet. Judge of the court, D T Puttaranga Swamy, came to the conclusion that this is a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304A of Indian Penal Code in the light of some suspicions remaining uncleared as the accused had claimed that he killed Jayaraj to save his own life. The judge said that if the guilty fails to pay fine, he will have to undergo two additional months of simple imprisonment. He also added that parents of Jayaraj are free to approach the government through the district legal service authority for additionl compensation.
It is gathered that Maltesha, who had secured bail in 2015 after having been arrested on October 20, 2014, had visited his native place and murdered his wife. In this case, he was given life term by a court in Shivamogga, and he is currently lodged in Bengaluru prison. He had also been absolved in a case of murdering Abdul Gafoor Madani in 2006 at Bijai here.
16 witnesses were examined and 23 documents were presented in the case. Public prosecutor, Judith Olga, presented the case on behalf of the prosecution.