Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court (HC) recently convicted a Mandya resident of murdering a sex worker at a lodge in the vicinity of Mysuru Sub-Urban Bus Stand on Sept. 18, 2010, reversing the acquittal order passed by a Sessions Court.

The convict is K.C. Girisha, a resident of Kommeerahalli village in Mandya district.

The HC also sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000 for robbing the sex worker before committing the murder. All sentences shall run concurrently, the Court said.

The HC directed K.C. Girisha (convict) to surrender before the Sessions Court within 45 days. Of the total fine amount of Rs. 40,000, Rs. 35,000 is to be paid to the child of the deceased woman and the remaining Rs. 5,000 to the  State Government.

About the case

On Sept. 18, 2010, when the victim was soliciting customers on SR Road in Mysuru, Girisha brought her to a lodge abutting the Sub-Urban Bus Stand in an autorickshaw.

Girisha, who introduced themselves as husband and wife, who had come on a temple visit, registered his name as Ravi in the lodge register and took a room. They had food and drinks served to the room that night. After having sex, Girisha reportedly strangled the woman with her saree, took her gold ear studs, a cellphone, some cash and quietly left the lodge.

After the murder came to light, jurisdictional Lashkar Police investigated the matter and filed a chargesheet. But the VII Additional Sessions Judge in Mysuru acquitted the accused on Apr. 25, 2016.

Questioning the Sessions Court order, Lashkar Police submitted a review petition to the High Court. A Division Bench of Justice H.B. Prabhakara Sastry and Justice Anil B. Katti confirmed the order of acquittal on rape charges, but sentenced him to life imprisonment for murder and rigorous imprisonment for robbery.

The Bench upheld the acquittal order vis-a-vis Section 376 of IPC (rape) and noted: “Merely because the deceased was said to be a sex worker, it is not safe to conclude that the accused had subjected her to rape prior to committing murder.”

The Bench noted that recovery of cellphone and ear studs showed the motive of the accused was to rob the woman.

The Bench then sentenced Girisha to life sentence and fined him.