Four Get Life Imprisonment In Mangaluru Murder Case Disguised As Road Accident

A court in Karnataka’s Mangaluru has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for the 2014 murder of Gangadhara Pangala, a case that was initially registered as a road accident but was later found to be a planned killing. The verdict came after a 12 year legal battle, with the court holding the accused guilty of murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.

The Second Additional District and Sessions Court judge V N Jagadish convicted Satish Baikampady (57), Pushparaj (47), Harish Baikampady (61) and Bhaskar Baikampady (63) in connection with Pangala’s death on May 15, 2014.

According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly had a personal grudge against Pangala after holding him responsible for Satish Baikampady’s suspension from the Baikampady Mogaveera Mahasabha. The prosecution claimed that the accused conspired to eliminate him and tracked his movements before carrying out the attack.

Investigators found that Pangala’s death was not a traffic accident as initially believed. The prosecution told the court that the accused followed him in a Bolero vehicle near Ganesh Shipping Godown in Meenakaliya, under Panambur police station limits, and allegedly rammed his scooter from behind. They later fled after attempting to make the incident appear accidental.

The investigation also revealed that the vehicle used in the crime was allegedly hidden to destroy evidence. Police later converted the accident case into a murder case after uncovering evidence of a criminal conspiracy.

The court sentenced each convict to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 each. They were also awarded two years’ simple imprisonment under Section 201 of the IPC for causing disappearance of evidence. The sentences will run concurrently.

The court directed that Rs 50,000 from the fine amount be paid as compensation to Pangala’s daughter, while the remaining amount will go to the government. The Bolero and other vehicles allegedly used in the crime were ordered to be confiscated.

The case was investigated by Panambur police officers including N R Mukri, Bhaskar Rai, Ravish Naik and Lokesh A C, who completed the probe and filed the chargesheet. Public Prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak represented the state.