The fourth additional district and sessions court on Friday sentenced Harish and Hemachandra to life imprisonment for murdering their friend on the banks of river Nethravathi.
On Friday, Judge Bhavani found guilty of the offence and passed the judgement
Three others including Neelappa Poojary, Vasanth and Ramesh were acquitted for lack of evidences by the court.
The police informed that Suresh had blackmailed his friend Harish of revealing to the land owner about his involvement in the theft of areca nut. Harish then conspired with Hemachandra and others to murder Suresh.
On October 17, 2015, Suresh was attending a religious programme of Kallurti Daiva at Navoor village in Bantwal. Harish and others lured Suresh by planning a swim in Nethravathi river. At the banks of the river, they however strangled and killed Suresh. Later, Harish filed a complaint with police and claimed that Suresh had drowned in the river.
Suspecting foul play, Suresh’s wife Sunanda had filed a complaint and the police had arrested Harish, Hemachandra, Neelappa, Vasantha, and Ramesh. sentenced Harish and Hemachandra to life imprisonment. The two were also sentenced to one year in prison for the offence under Sections 120(b) and 201. The sentences will run concurrently.
The judge also directed the District Legal Services Authority to award a compensation to Sunanda.
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