Bangalore: It's Death for Cop-turned-serial-rapist Killer Umesh Reddy
DHNS
Bangalore, Feb 19: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday confirmed the death sentence of Umesh Reddy alias B A Umesh, the serial rapist and psychopath killer, who terrorised the State in the nineties.
Justice S R Bannurmath, the third judge appointed to decide Reddy’s fate, upheld the city fast-track court judgment of October 26, 2006, by confirming his death sentence.
Reading out the verdict, the judge ruled that there was no scope for finding any mitigating circumstances in Reddy’s favour. “The accused, being a habitual offender, the sentences of imprisonment imposed on him in several cases had no deterrent effect on him,” he observed.
Terming the case the rarest of the rare, Justice Bannurmath said: “It is evident that even after punishments in cases of robbery, dacoity and rape, he has not reformed; no reformation can be expected from such a habitual offender and pervert criminal.”
The judge added: “I do not understand why such a devil in man’s garb should be maintained by society by locking him up in jail for life. It is a known fact that whenever there is an opportunity, he has a tendency to run away from custody and commit new, heinous crimes.
Faith in system
“The death sentence imposed by the trial court has to be confirmed; or else the faith society has reposed in the criminal justice system would be shattered.”
On an appeal by Reddy’s counsel to consider keeping him in prison for life, as it was done in Swamy Shraddananda’s case, the judge observed: “I am unable to accept this proposition, because in Swamy Shraddananda’s case there were certain mitigating circumstances in his favour — like him being a first-time offender and a fairly aged person.
“But here, it is a policeman who has become a habitual pervert and a violent offender, who not only commits robbery but also, to satisfy his lust, attacks helpless women, commits rape and has even brutally murdered one of his victims, Jayashree.”
Citing several apex court judgments and quotes of several legal experts like Justice V S Malimath, Justice Bannurmath upheld the death sentence imposed by the lower court and referred the matter to the chief justice.
Divergent judgment
Umesh Reddy was convicted by a high court division bench on October 4, 2007, for the rape and murder of Jayashree Maradi Subbaiah, a widow, on February 28, 1998. But the judges differed on the quantum of sentence, as one judge upheld the death penalty imposed by the lower court, while the second judge felt he should undergo life imprisonment.
Justice V G Sabhahit had confirmed the lower court’s order imposing death penalty by observing that the accused was not a first-time offender and had already been convicted in three criminal cases.
“Imprisonment for life could be inadequate, and the offence committed by the accused constitutes the rarest of the rare cases. The interest of justice would be met only by awarding the death penalty to him,” he had observed.
Justice Ravi B Naik contended that the death penalty as a deterrent had failed to curb crime, and modified the lower court’s order to rigorous imprisonment for life.
“Imposition of the death penalty is not called for in this case. The death sentence be set aside and accused should undergo rigorous imprisonment until he completes his natural life. He shall not be entitled to any remission of sentence, amnesty or any special occasion either by state or centre,” the judge observed.
Umesh Reddy, a former constable from Hiriyur taluk in Chitradurga district, was arrested on March 2, 1998, by the Yeshwanthpur police.
He has 25 cases against him. Of these, he was convicted in nine cases, including two cases in Bellary, three in Peenya and one in Baroda, Gujarat. He has been acquitted in ten cases, and trial is pending in the remaining cases.
Reddy, who committed several crimes in Chitradurga and Bangalore North, gave the slip to police many times earlier. He is also known as a transvestite (one who is fascinated by the garments of opposite sex).