Karnataka HC acquits accused in Belagavi triple murder case
Bengaluru, Jun 23: The High Court of Karnataka has acquitted the accused in the sensational Belagavi triple murder accused.
The judgement of acquittal by the division bench of Justice K S Mudagal and Justice M G S Kamal came on the appeal filed by Praveen Bhat against the order of the Sessions Court in Belagavi which had found him guilty of the murders and sentenced him to life imprisonment in April 2018.
The HC bench found that the allegations of murders was not proved beyond reasonable doubt. It, therefore, set aside the conviction order of the Sessions Court.
Homemaker Reena Malagatti and her two children, Aditya and Sahitya were found murdered at their Kuvempu Nagar home on 16 August, 2015.
Based on the complaint filed by Hemanth Dalal, the brother of Reena Malagatti, Bhat, who was a neighbour, was arrested.
He was accused of committing the murders after his alleged illicit relationship with Reena turned sour. Reena was found with her throat slit and the two children strangulated.
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15 arrested in Mangaluru mob lynching case; Over 25 suspects believed involved
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru Rural Police have arrested 15 individuals in connection with the alleged mob lynching of an unidentified man near Bhatra Kallurti Temple in Kudupu on April 27. The case, which initially began as an investigation into an unnatural death, has now developed into a murder probe involving charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Based on a complaint filed by Deepak Kumar (33), a resident of Kulasekhara, Mangaluru, police registered Crime No. 37/2025 at the Mangaluru Rural Police Station against 19 named individuals. Sections invoked include 103(2), 115(2), 189(2), 190, 191(1), 191(3), and 240 of the BNS, 2023. Investigators suspect the involvement of over 25 persons in total, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused.
The arrests follow intensive investigation, including the collection of CCTV footage from the vicinity, analysis of mobile tower data, and witness interrogation. The deceased, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was found near the temple premises around 5:30 PM on April 27. Initial observations revealed no major external injuries, prompting authorities to seek a post-mortem examination at Wenlock District Hospital.
The preliminary autopsy report submitted on April 28 cited internal bleeding and shock due to multiple blows to the back as the cause of death. Lack of timely medical intervention was also noted as a contributing factor.
Police have established that the man was brutally assaulted around 3:00 PM during a cricket match near the temple grounds. He was allegedly attacked with sticks, fists, and kicks by a group of individuals. Despite attempts by bystanders to intervene, the assault continued until the victim collapsed.
The arrested individuals are as follows:
Sachin T (26), son of Late Taranath, Nadumane House, Thiruvail Village
Devadas (50), son of Late Lingappa Poojary, Nadumane, Thiruvail Village
Manjunath (32), son of Mallikarjun, Mangala Nagar
Saideep (29), son of Harish, Subramanya Nagar, Neermarga
Nitesh Kumar @ Santosh (33), son of Late Vishwanath, Mangala Nagar
Dheekshith Kumar (32), son of Vishwanath, Kudupu Katte
Sandeep (23), son of Basavarajappa Haveri, Vamanjoor
Vivian Alvares (41), son of Vijay Alvares, Protasaf Colony
Sridatta (32), son of Late Ananth, Kudupukatte
Rahul (23), son of Ramesh, Bejai
Pradeep Kumar (35), son of Mohan Das, Jyothi Nagar
Manish Shetty (21), son of Satish Shetty, Padavu Village
Dhanush (31), son of Late Sadashiva, Kudupukatte
Dheekshith (27), son of Devappa, Kulasekhara
Kishore Kumar (37), son of Subrahmanya Acharya, Kudupu
