Court convicts and sentences 11 to three years of imprisonment

The 1st Additional District and Sessions judge sentenced 11 accused to three years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹77,000.

Judge Eranna on February 11 delivered the verdict in connection with a case registered in the Saidapur Police station in 2014. According to a release by Gurulingappa Srimanth Teli, public prosecutor, the convicted are Shankrappa Gowda Giriyappa Gowda Police Patil, Shantureddy Giriyappa Gowda Police Patil, Basana Gowda Ventakataray Giriyappanor, Channareddy Gowdappa Gowda, Reddeppa Basanna Sheksindi, Bannappa Lakshman Shekhsindi, Hanumanth Erappa Bagali, Husenappa Basavaraj Bagali, Mallappa Basavaraj Uppar, Maraya Bhimanna Uppar, and Bhimanna Rachanna Hugar.

The police registered a case against the accused under Sections 143, 147, 341, 436, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after they allegedly set a hotel and grocery shop on fire. Residents of Neelahalli village, Sharanayyaswamy Hiremath and brothers divided a place near Hanuman Temple in the village where a hotel and a grocery shop were run by Prashant son of Sharanayyaswamy and Bannayyaswamy.

The accused, however, had been objecting to their business and demanding they vacate the hotel and grocery shop, claiming that the place belonged to the temple, the release stated.

On March 18, 2014, the accused set the hotel and grocery shop on fire. Items worth ₹1.22 lakh was destroyed, and further, the accused prevented those who came to douse the flames.

Following this, the police registered a case based on a complaint lodged by Sharanayyaswamy Hiremath. The police submitted a charge-sheet before the court.

The accused were proven guilt in the court.