Koppal (Karnataka), February 16 A court in Karnataka on Monday sentenced three people to death for sexually assaulting an Israeli tourist and murdering a youth in this district last year.
The Gangavathi Civil Court delivered the judgment, sentencing the convicts – Mallesh alias Handi Malla, Sharanabasava, and Chaitanya Sai – to death.
The court had on February 7 found them guilty and reserved the order for February 16.
On Monday, the court pronounced the sentence.
According to the prosecution, the heinous crime took place near Sanapur on March 6, 2025.
The woman, of Israeli origin, was subjected to inhuman sexual assault. The incident had made international headlines and cast a shadow over the district's tourism.
Public Prosecutor Nagalakshmi told reporters that the homestay owner had taken tourists Pankaj from Maharashtra, Bibhas from Odisha, Daniel from the US, and an Israeli woman for stargazing at Sanapur near the Tungabhadra canal under the Gangavathi rural police station limits at around 10:30 pm.
Just then, the three accused arrived on a motorcycle and got into a fight over a financial dispute, she added.
With the intention of raping these women, the convicts pushed the three men into the canal. To ensure they didn't escape, they threw stones at them. Later, they gang-raped the homestay owner and the Israeli national, the Public Prosecutor said.
"Bibhas Kumar died due to drowning in the canal. Pankaj did not know how to swim, but Daniel saved him," Nagalakshmi said.
She added that after raping the women, the accused absconded with their mobile phones, cash, and a camera.
"This was a case of gang rape, murder, attempt to murder, robbery, and extortion. Therefore, Judge Sadananda Nagappa Naik under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita gave them the death penalty. For the gang rape, the court ordered imprisonment until their last breath," Nagalakshmi said.
She added that the accused can file an appeal.
