Mangaluru: Two get life term in Shrimati Shetty murder case
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Sep 25: A court here has handed life imprisonment to two people involved in the gruesome murder of chit fund operator Shrimati Shetty in 2019.
On Tuesday, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru sentenced Jonas Samson (35) and Victoria Mathias (47) to life imprisonment for their roles in the murder. The third accused, Raju (34), was sentenced to six and a half months of simple imprisonment for his involvement in concealing stolen property.
Judge Mallikarjuna Swamy HS pronounced the sentence based on the charges established under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Jonas Samson and Victoria Mathias were convicted under IPC Section 302 (murder) and Section 34 (common intent), resulting in life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 25,000 each. If they fail to pay the fine, they will face an additional year of simple imprisonment.
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Further, under IPC Section 201 (causing the disappearance of evidence) and Section 34, they were sentenced to seven years of simple imprisonment and fined Rs. 5,000 each, with an extra three months of imprisonment in case of non-payment. Additionally, for extortion under IPC Section 392 and 34, they received a five-year term with another fine of Rs. 5,000, leading to six months of additional imprisonment if unpaid.
Raju, the third accused, was convicted under IPC Section 414 for aiding in the concealment of stolen property and was fined Rs. 5,000, along with six and a half months of simple imprisonment.
As part of the judgment, the court directed that Shrimati Shetty's mother be paid a compensation of Rs. 75,000, and the funds be facilitated through the legal services authority.
According to police, the 42-year-old victim, was a resident of Attavara in Mangaluru and ran an electronics shop while also managing a chit fund business. Jonas had two memberships in her chit fund but defaulted on his monthly payments. When Shrimati Shetty visited Jonas' residence on May 11, 2019, at around 9:15 am to collect the due payment, a heated argument ensued.
In a fit of rage, Jonas struck her on the head with a wooden object, leaving her unconscious. Along with his wife, Victoria, Jonas proceeded to rob Shrimati Shetty of her gold ornaments before committing the act of murder. They dismembered her body into 29 pieces, placed them in plastic sacks, and scattered them across various locations in the city at night. Her belongings, including a vanity bag and slippers, were burnt inside their house to eliminate evidence.
The crime came to light three days later when a body part was discovered near a shop in Kadri, eventually leading to the recovery of her body parts in Nandigudde. Raju had also played a role in assisting Jonas and Victoria in the crime, police said.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
