Karnataka HC slaps Rs. 3 lakh fine on two acid attackers

Prime accused in the attack on couple let off

The Karnataka High Court on Friday imposed Rs. 3 lakh fine on two persons while upholding their conviction in a case of acid attack on a lawyer-couple in Sullia in Dakshina Kannada district.

Confirming the 10-year rigorous imprisonment imposed by the Puttur Fast Track Court (FTC) on Santosh M.B. and K.S. Narayana in 2010, the High Court directed them to pay a fine of Rs. 1.5 lakh each. Failure to pay the fine would attract additional three years’ imprisonment.

The High Court, however, acquitted the prime accused, D.K. Usman, at whose behest the two convicts carried out the attack, giving him benefit of doubt due to “shaky evidence against him.”

The FTC had convicted Usman and sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Justice C.R. Kumaraswamy passed the order on the appeals filed against the 2010 order of the FTC.

The Bench directed the penalty amount to be paid to Venkappa Gowda, an advocate who sustained grievous injuries in the attack that took place on February 27, 2007 at his house. His wife, Champa V. Gowda, had sustained minor injuries.

According to the prosecution, Mr. Gowda, who was handling civil cases of Usman, had later started appearing for one Khalid, who is said to be Usman’s opponent in civil cases. Besides, Mr. Gowda had reportedly taken Rs. 6 lakh from Usman and allegedly failed to return it. Usman, who was upset with Mr. Gowda, allegedly hatched a plan for the acid attack.

But the High Court said that materials, including motive for the crime, could not be established against Usman by the prosecution.

The court, however, found enough evidence against the convicts as one of them was identified by the victims in the identification parade. The fourth accused in the case, the person who threw acid, is still absconding. The trio had gone to Mr. Gowda’s house on the pretext of discussing a case and splashed acid on the couple.http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-hc-slaps-rs-3-lakh-fine-on-two-acid-attackers/article6156040.ece