Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jul 6: In a significant ruling in an attempted murder case, the court upheld the conviction of the accused despite witnesses turning hostile, relying heavily on CCTV footage and forensic evidence presented by the prosecution.
The court convicted Rajesh Devadiga alias Raja (42), a resident of Janata Colony in Suratkal Idya village, and Jagadish alias Jaggu (45), a resident of Tokur Shediguri village in Jokatte. Both were sentenced based on strong evidence, despite the hostile stance of the witnesses.
Rajesh Devadiga and the complainant, Jeevan Mascarenhas (28), from Idya Janata Colony, were previously involved in an assault case dating back to 2016. Rajesh's failure to attend court hearings led to delays in the case, causing friction between him and Jeevan. This tension culminated on December 14, 2019, when Rajesh and Jagadish attacked Jeevan with a machete while he was drinking with a friend at a bar in Idya, resulting in injuries to his shoulder and right hand.
PSI Sundari filed the chargesheet and provided crucial CCTV footage from the bar to the court. Despite 31 witnesses and 58 pieces of evidence being presented, many witnesses turned hostile during the trial. However, Judge Mallikarjuna Swamy of the first additional district and sessions court considered the CCTV footage and forensic evidence as compelling proof and sentenced Rajesh to 323 days of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000, while Jagadish received a sentence of 39 days of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000.
The prison sentences were waived as both convicts had already spent more time in custody as undertrials than their actual sentences. The prosecution was led by Judith Olga Margaret Crasta.