Cyanide Mohan 17th case: Balepuni lady’s murder proved

Mangaluru: The investigation of the 17^th rape and murder case against serial killer Cyanide Mohan was conducted at the 6^th Additional District and Session’s Court in Mangaluru on Tuesday. During the session, his guilt was proved and the quantum of punishment will likely be given on Oct 24^th.

Mr. Mohan was found guilty under IPC Sec 366 (kidnap), Sec 376 (rape), Sec 302 (murder), Sec 328 (giving poison), Sec 392 (theft of jewelry), Sec 394 (theft after giving poison), Sec 417 (cheating) and Sec 201 (destruction of evidence).

Case background

On Oct 21^st 2015, Mohan came in contact with a lady at B C Road bus stop. The lady was from Balepuni in Bantwal and was working as an assistant at an Aanganwadi. The lady had come to B C road in connection attending an Aanganwadi meeting and salary when Mohan introduced himself to her as Anand. Later he convinced her of getting married to her since they were of the same caste. He then asked her to come wearing all her jewelry.

Accordingly, the lady informed back at home that she was going on a picnic to Sringeri with her colleagues on Oct 21^st 2005, and was picked from B C Road by Mohan, who took her to Bengaluru where they stayed at a room in Shabari lodge. During the night, he raped the lady and in the morning, he gave the lady cyanide in the guise of emergency contraceptives at Majestic bus stand. The lady consumed the tablet at Platform no.1 and instantaneously collapsed. The people who were there rushed her to the hospital, but she had breathed her last by then. On Oct 27^th, the lady was cremated in Bengaluru itself since no one had claimed her. The police there booked a case under death under unnatural causes. The autopsy report clarified that she had consumed cyanide.

Meanwhile, Mohan returned back to the lodge, collected the jewelry and made good his escape. He then returned back to Mangaluru and sold the jewellery. In the meantime, the family of the lady began to search for her. The president of the Aanganwadi committee had noticed the lady boarding a bus with a man. On Oct 25^th, the lady’s family filed a missing complaint with Konaje police.

Arrest and investigation

After getting arrested on Sep 29^th 2009, Mohan accepted his murdering of the lady from Balepui through cyanide in Bengaluru. The then police inspector of Konaje Lingapa, had carried out the primary investigation. The investigation was later continued by COD inspector Vajeer Sabh who then submitted the chargesheet to the court.

Judge Saidunnisa investigated the case in the court by examining 41 witness and 67 evidence and found the accused guilty of his crimes. Public prosecutor Judith O M Crasta argued on behalf of the prosecution.