The First Additional District and Sessions Court has convicted a 26-year-old youth on finding him guilty of murdering another man, who refused to pay him after having “unnatural sex”.
The Judge, B.K. Naik convicted Rajesh alias Ratish (26), of Kunjathbail for the murder of Sundara Poojary in a secluded area off the Old Kent Road in the city on January 20, 2012.
According to the charge sheet by the Mangaluru South Police, Rajesh joined Sundara Poojary in the city market and after a while, the two men headed towards a secluded government land near Dhobi Ghat.
Rajesh was involved in “unnatural sex” with Sundara Poojary for which the latter refused to pay Rs. 100 demanded by the former. In a fit of anger, Rajesh hit Sundara and strangulated him before throwing him into an abandoned well.
Passers-by found the body a week later and informed the police. The then police inspector, Tilakchandra investigated the case and arrested Rajesh on February 5, 2012. The charge sheet was filed in June 2013.
Principal Public Prosecutor, Pushparaj K. Adhyantaya examined as many as 26 witnesses including a railway contract employee who had seen Rajesh and Sundara Poojary going to the plot together on January 20 and Rajesh returning alone an hour later. The prosecutor also examined a doctor who certified that Rajesh was involved in sodomy with Sundara Poojary and other men.
The judge has convicted Rajesh under Sections 302, 377, 404 and 201 of Indian Penal Code. The judge will hear on the quantum of punishment on January 9.
