Daijiworld Media Network – Bhatkal (HB/EP)

Dharwad, Jun 26: “Dharwad high court dismissed the appeal filed by Karnataka state government to impose punishment to suspects accused of the murder of Kalpana Mahale, a woman at a deserted place at Konara Gudda, Bhatkal-Sagar road at 2.45 pm on November 4, 2012,” said the defence advocate Ravikiran Murdeshwar.

The woman was murdered and her gold ornaments were stolen. A trial in this connection was held at Karwar district court and the statements of 30 witnesses were recorded. The then district and session judge Vittal S Dharwad had declared on March 26, 2018 the suspects Mundalli resident Sadashiva Nagappa Naika and Nagaraja Lacchayya Naika as innocent. The Karnataka government had questioned the verdict in the high court.

“Justice R Devadas and Justice J M Khazi who held the trial through video conference dismissed the appeal by the government and upheld the June 24, 2018 verdict of Karwar sessions court,” said advocate Ravikiran.