The two security guards at Cubbon Park were found guilty of raping a 30-year-old woman from Tumakuru in November 2015 and were sentenced to life imprisonment, by the 54th Additional City Civil and Sessions court on Monday. The could also be imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000. The court directed the State government to award Rs. 2 lakh to the victim by way of compensation.
The woman had come to the park to apply for membership at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Club, but it was closed and she was told to return the next morning. While she was trying to find her way out of the park, she ran into the accused — Raju Medhi, 28, and Balin Das, 38, both from Assam — who promised to help her. Instead, they took her to an isolated place near Siddalingaiah Circle and raped her. She was found by the Cubbon Park police.
The horrific incident spurred the authorities to take precautions while hiring security personnel for the park. The number of streetlights were almost doubled and over a hundred CCTV cameras were installed on the recommendation of the city police.
Police arrested Medhi and Das based on the woman’s description of the rapists. Cubbon Park police Inspector C. Balakrishna filed a detailed charge sheet with corroborating medical reports and other evidence.
Public Prosecutor Chinna Venkataravanappa requested the court that considering the gravity of the crime the convicts not be released on parole even with good conduct.
