Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Nov 7: The district and sessions court at Udupi, which conducted trial in the case pertaining to murder of a person named Prakash Namboodiri in 2013, has exonerated the accused of the murder charge. Namboodiri had died inside the nursery of Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation (KCDC) at Kervashe village of Karkala taluk, and Santu alias Santosh had been charged with this murder.

Prakash used to work for KCDC nursery at Kervashe which falls within the town unit of KCDC. On December 26, 2013, he had died. Initially he was suspected to have been the victim of wild animal attack. Accordingly, a case of unnatural death was registered in Ajekar police station.

During the investigation, investigating officers suspected foul play on the basis of the kind of injuries found on the body of the deceased. They learnt during the investigation that Santosh, who was working in the same nursery, had a fight earlier on that day with Prakash Namboodiri relating to destruction of cashew saplings by monkeys. Added to that, Santosh had gone missing since the death of his colleague. Accordingly, the police changed the case into that of murder.

The then police circle inspector here, G M Naykar, conducted investigation and filed a charge sheet in the court. The court, which examined 19 witnesses, came to the conclusion that the prosecution has failed to produce enough evidences to prove the murder charge. Judge of the court, Shivashankar B Amarannavar, through an order, ordered the accused to be released.

Advocate from Udupi, Ramesh L Devadiga, who had been appointed by the court at government's expense, had presented arguments on behalf of the accused.