A special court in Mysuru handed down a death sentence on Saturday to 32-year-old Karthik for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl. The conviction and subsequent sentencing follow a brutal crime that occurred in October 2025 while the victim's family was visiting Mysuru for the annual Dasara festival.
Special Judge Anand P. Hogade, presiding over the Fast Track Special Court-I, delivered the verdict after the court had formally convicted the accused on October 15. The proceedings, which dealt with charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, saw the prosecution successfully advocate for capital punishment. Represented by Special Public Prosecutor K. B. Jayanthi, the state argued that the nature of the crime placed it firmly in the 'rarest of rare' legal category.
The prosecution's case was built on a comprehensive foundation of witness testimonies, documentary evidence, and forensic reports. During the trial, the chargesheet cited 83 witnesses to establish the sequence of events. The investigation stemmed from an incident in the early hours of October 9, 2025, when the victim, whose family had traveled from Kalaburagi to sell toys and balloons for the festival, went missing from their makeshift shelter near Doddakere Maidan, adjacent to the Mysuru Palace and Dasara Exhibition Grounds. Her body was later discovered by her father near their shelter.
The Nazarbad police acted swiftly, registering a case and apprehending Karthik within 24 hours of the incident in Kollegal, located in the Chamarajanagar district. According to police reports from the time of the arrest, the accused attempted to flee while being transported for further questioning, resulting in a confrontation during which he was shot in the leg; two police officers were also reportedly injured during this attempt to escape.
Karthik, a resident of Siddalingapura on the outskirts of Mysuru, was employed as a cleaner on a private bus operating the Mysuru-Kollegal route. Records indicate that this was not his first encounter with the law; he had a prior conviction from a 2019 case involving the attempted murder of a woman and sexual harassment in Kollegal. Following that conviction, he had been sentenced to four years in prison but remained out on bail after challenging the judgment in the High Court.
The sentencing has drawn significant public attention across Karnataka, reflecting ongoing concerns regarding the safety of minors and the efficacy of the judicial process in cases involving sexual violence against children. The verdict has been highlighted by many as a reaffirmation of the need for swift and stringent justice in cases involving vulnerable victims.
This judicial conclusion marks the end of a high-profile trial that captured the attention of the local community and law enforcement agencies. As the state moves forward, the case remains a stark reminder of the legal consequences for such violent crimes, with the court's decision reflecting the severity with which the law addresses offenses under the POCSO Act.
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