Nursing student’s death: Accused sentenced to six months’ jail

A Mangaluru magistrate court has sentenced 57-year-old Deepak R Kariya of Kodialbail to six months in jail and imposed a penalty of ₹7,000 on finding him guilty of rash and negligent driving leading to the death of nursing student Riya Antony on the Urwa Market -Mannagudda Road in 2022.

In the chargesheet, the Mangaluru Traffic West Police said Deepak R. Kariya drove his car in a rash and negligent manner on September 3, 2022 to hit the motorcycle that Akash Ajay was riding with Riya Antony as pillion. Grievously injured Ms. Antony succumbed in a private hospital on September 12, 2022. On the complaint by Mr. Ajay, the police arrested Kariya and filed chargesheet for offences punishable under Sections 279, 338, 304-A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 190(2) of Indian Motor Vehicles (IMV) Act.

The 8th Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mangaluru, P.A. Fawaz, on Wednesday, sentenced Kariya to six months simple imprisonment and imposed a penalty of ₹2,000 for the offence punishable under Section 304 (A) of IPC. In default of payment of the fine, he shall undergo further imprisonment for a period of 10 days.

The Magistrate sentenced him for one month and imposed penalty of ₹1,000 for offence under Section 279 of IPC, two months simple imprisonment and penalty of ₹ 1,000 for offence under Section 338 of IPC, and penalty of ₹ 3,000 for the offence under Section 190(2) of IMV. All the sentences shall run concurrently. Kariya was directed to pay the total penalty amount of ₹ 7,000 to the State.

Geeta Rai represented the prosecution.