Karnataka Court Awards Death Sentence To Three For Gang-Rape Of Israeli Woman, Murder Of Male Tourist Last Year

A Karnataka Court on Monday (February 16) awarded death sentence to three men convicted for gang rape of two women including an Israeli national and for murder of a male tourist from Odisha last year.

The three men–Mallesh, Sai and Sharanappa, were convicted for the offences on February 6. The case status of the court of I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Koppal sitting at Gangavathi states,

"...For the offence punishable under Section 103(1) BNS (corresponding to Section 302 IPC 1860) (murder) read with section 3(5) of BNS 2023 (corresponding to Section 34 IPC 1860), for committing murder of Bibhas Kumar Nayak, the Convicts Accused No.1 Mallesh alias Handi malla alias Mallayya S/o Ayyappa alias Dasappa Channadasar; Accused No.2 Sai alias Chaitannay Sai alias Saikumar S/o Kameshwara Sillikyatar; The Accused No.3 Sharanappa alias Sharanabasavaraj @ Sharana S/o Balappa Nayaka Hasikatagi, are hereby SENTENCED TO DEATH. The sentence of death shall be executed by hanging by the neck till they are dead, in terms of Sec. 393(5) of BNSS (Corresponding to Section 354(5) of Cr.P.C), subject to confirmation by the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka under Section 407 of BNSS (Section 366 Cr.P.C.)".

The court has sentenced them to life imprisonment for the offence of gang rape under Section 70(1) BNS (Section 376D IPC) read with section 3(5) of BNS.

For the offence of attempt to murder under Section 109(1) BNS (corresponding to Section 307 IPC 1860) read with section 3(5) of BNS 2023 (corresponding to Section 34 IPC ), the convicts were sentenced to undergo Imprisonment for life and pay of fine of Rs.30,000 each, in default of fine, they shall undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for a period of 3 years.

The convicts have also been sentenced to life imprisonment for offences punishable under Section 64(2)(l) (while committing rape causes grievous bodily harm or maims or disfigures or endangers the life of a woman) BNS "which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of natural life of accused no.1 to 3".

The court said that all the sentences awarded shall run concurrently except the default sentence.

As per news reports, the incident took place in Sanapur last year along the Tungabhadra left bank canal. Per reports, the two survivors had gone stargazing along with three other tourists including the tourist from Odisha near Sanapur lake, when they were attack by the convicts.

Case title: State v/s Mallesh alias Handi malla alias Mallayya, Sai alias Chaitannay Sai alias Saikumar, Sharanappa alias Sharanabasavaraj aliyas Sharana

SC/0000016/2025

Click Here To Read/Download Case Status