Appeal filed against acquittal of the accused in 2009 Pub attack

Mangaluru: The State government filed an appeal against the judgment of a local magistrate court who acquitted all the accused in the pub attack case of 2009.

Mangaluru’s local magistrate court acquitted 26 accused persons due to lack of evidence.

After Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sasikanth Senthil sanctioned the appeal on April 28, prosecutor of the

II Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court filed it on May 5, before the Principal District and Sessions Court under Sections 378, 382, 386 and 391 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The case has been transferred to the VI Additional District and Sessions Court, which has issued notice to all 26 respondents. The hearing is scheduled for June 27.

2^nd JMFC Magistrate Manjunatha R acquitted all 26 accused persons including Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, of the charges under Sections 143, 147, 448, 341, 342, 323, 504, 505(2), 506 and 120(B) on March 12.

The case against three accused persons remains pending since they failed to appear before court. The case against one was abated as he had passed away.

The incident of January 2009 included attack on youngsters and women at a pub on Balmatta Road in the city. The word of such injustice spread throughout the world.

After the public questioned the acquittal, the Directorate of Prosecution asked a senior public prosecutor to study the judgment, who stated that appeal was required as more witnesses should be examined. The requirement under law was fulfilled when Deputy Commissioner sanctioned it on March 28 which led to successful filing of the appeal.