The High Court of Karnataka has acquitted four members of the Dandupalya gang for murdering one Geetha in 2000. However, the court convicted them of theft and sentenced them to seven years’ imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 5,000 each.
A division bench comprising Justices Ravi Malimath and John Michael Cunha acquitted the members due to lack of witnesses and strong evidence.
Earlier, a special court had sentenced five gang members — Doddahanuma, Nallathimma, Munikrishna, Venkatesha and Lakshmi — to life imprisonment and had slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 each.
Later, they challenged the sentence in the high court. The bench, however, acquitted Lakshmi of murder and theft.
(Published 03 September 2018, 19:51 IST)
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