All the 12 accused persons chargesheeted for their involvement in disrobing and assaulting a 42-year-old woman belonging to a Scheduled Tribe community have been found guilty and sentenced to five-year rigorous imprisonment.
The Belagavi Additional 10th District and Sessions Court announced the verdict on Wednesday. Judge H.S. Manjunath convicted all the 12 accused under Section 235 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (corresponding to Section 258 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita).
The convicted persons are Basappa Naika (45), Raju Naika (52), Kempanna (52), Parvathi Basappa Naika (37), Yeallva Rudrappa Naika (67), Lakkappa Naika (26), Gangavva Basappa Walikar (62), Sangeetha Sadashiva Hegganaika (35), Santosh Naika 921), Sobha Raju Naika (49), Lakkavva Yellappa Naika (42), Shivappa Vannuri (53), all residents of Hosavantamuri village.
The incident
The incident occurred on December 11, 2023, in Vantamuri village of Belagavi district. The woman was assaulted before being tied to a pole and partially stripped after her son eloped with a girl. The girl’s engagement was scheduled on December 11. But she eloped with a boy from the same village on the night of December 10. The boy and the girl belong to the same community.
When her relatives realised that the girl had disappeared, they rushed to the boy’s house, ransacked it, and beat up his mother. She was tied to a pole in front of her house and partially stripped. One of the villagers informed the police who rescued the woman.
Subsequently the Kakathi Station Police had registered an FIR based on the complaint lodged by the victim.
They were booked for offences punishable under Sections 109, 114, 117, 143, 147, 148, 307, 323, 324, 326, 341, 342, 353, 354, 354B, 355, 392, 427, 452, 504, and 506 read with Sections 149, 34, and 37 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 2(A) of the Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act, 1981.
Transferred to CID
Considering the seriousness of the offence, the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The High Court of Karnataka had initiated suo motu proceedings and passed orders directing the competent court to complete the trial expeditiously within an outer limit of one year. After the trial commenced in the district court, 45 witnesses were examined.
Published – February 05, 2026 12:48 am IST
