Mangaluru: Four including prime accused sentenced to lifer in 2014 Gangadhar Pangala murder case
· Daijiworld.comDaijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jul 27: The 2nd additional district and sessions court in Mangaluru on Monday sentenced four individuals, including three brothers, to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of Mogaveera community leader Gangadhar Pangala, which took place 12 years ago.
The convicted individuals are Sathish Baikampady (57), his brothers Harish Baikampady (61) and Bhaskar Baikampady (63), all residents of Meenakaliya, and Pushparaj (47), a resident of Shivalli in Udupi district.
According to a press release from the Mangaluru city police, the incident occurred on May 15, 2014, near the Ganesh Shipping godown in Meenakaliya under the Panambur police station limits. Initially registered as a fatal road accident, a preliminary investigation revealed it was a pre-planned murder.
Motive and execution
The police stated that Sathish Baikampady harboured a grudge against Gangadhar, blaming him as the primary reason for his suspension from the Baikampady Mogaveera Mahasabha. Fuelled by this old enmity, the accused hatched a conspiracy.
They tailed Gangadhar's scooter in a Bolero vehicle and intentionally rammed into him from behind. After confirming that Gangadhar had sustained grievous injuries to his head and body and had died on the spot, the accused fled the scene with the vehicle.
Investigation and verdict
Following partial investigations by then police inspectors N R Mukri, Bhaskar Rai, and Ravish Nayak, police inspector Lokesh A C completed the probe and filed the chargesheet. Judge Jagadeesh V N pronounced the sentence on July 27. Public prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak argued on behalf of the state.
Under IPC sections 302, 120, and 109 read with 34, Sathish, Harish, and Bhaskar were sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 15,000 each. Pushparaj was sentenced to life imprisonment and a Rs 15,000 fine under IPC sections 302 and 120 read with 34. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment for each of them.
Furthermore, all four accused were sentenced to two years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 each under IPC section 201 read with 34 for destroying evidence. Defaulting on this fine will attract an extra month of imprisonment.
Out of the total fine collected, the court ordered Rs 50,000 to be paid as compensation to the deceased's daughter, with the remaining amount forfeited to the government. The vehicles used in the crime—a Bolero, a Ritz, and a Maruti car—were ordered to be seized and forfeited to the government.
Following the court's order, all four accused have been remanded to judicial custody.