Belagavi (Karnataka): The 3rd Additional District and Sessions Court of the Belagavi sentenced to life five persons who had gang-raped a minor girl on a hillock at Muthyanatti on the outskirts of the Belagavi in February 2017.
The convicts were identified as Sanju Siddappa Daddi (24), Suresh Bharamappa Belagavi (24), Sunil Lagamappa Dummagol(21), all residents of Mutyahnatti, Mahesh Baalappa Shivangol(23), resident of Mangutti in Hukkeri taluk and Somshekhar Durudundeshwara Shahapur(23), resident of Bailhongal. The Court Judge Manjappa Hanumanthappa Annayanavar announced a verdict of life imprisonment for all five accused and each one had to pay a penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs.
A minor girl from the district, who was staying in a hostel, had gone to Mutyanhatti hillock on February 15, 2017, with her friend on a bike. The convicts forced her friend to engage in sexual acts with her and filmed them in a compromising position. They later gang-raped the girl and threatened the girl with dire consequences if she went to the police to file a complaint. The convicted rapists also took away the cell phones of the victim and her friend and demanded Rs. 20,000 using the explicit recording as a blackmailing tool.
The charge sheet was submitted by investigating officer Ramesh.B. Gokak who had investigated the case. The court examined 33 witnesses and on Friday pronounced a verdict of life imprisonment for the convicts.
