Mangaluru: Sixth additional district and sessions court judge Rajesh Maruthi Kamate has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for murdering Rakesh near MV Shetty College on Panjimogaru-Maladi Road on Jan 3, 2019. A fourth accused was also convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for destruction of evidence and harbouring an offender.According to the prosecution, the murder was committed because Rakesh was in love with the sister of Sunil Kumar alias Kauti. The four accused Sunil Kumar, Praveen Poojari alias Chotu, Preetham alias Abhi and Rohith Kumar alias Shooter allegedly joined hands and hacked Rakesh to death with a sword.Kavoor police registered a case under Sections 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and 212 (harbouring an offender), read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). After investigation, police filed a chargesheet against the accused.The three accused, Sunil, Praveen and Preetham, were sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 15,000 imposed on each. All four accused were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment under Section 201, read with Section 34 of the IPC, and fined Rs 5,000 each. Rohith was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment under Section 212, read with Section 34 of the IPC, and fined Rs 5,000.Of the total fine of Rs 70,000, Rs 20,000 will be remitted to the govt and Rs 50,000 paid to the deceased’s father. Public prosecutor Motilal Chowdary represented the prosecution. Police inspector KR Naik of Kavoor police station was the investigating officer.
