Bhatkal Rape, Murder Case: Innocent Venkatesh Spends 6.8 Years in Jail after Alleged Conspiracy by Police

Bhatkal: In a tragic story, an innocent Bhatkal native served 6.8 years in jail after the police allegedly created fake evidence and later managed to sent him jail inconnection with a rape and murder case of a girl at Murudeshwara near Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state.

In a press meet organised in Bhatkal earlier this week, the victim of alleged police conspiracy, Venkatesh Harikanthra narrated his horrific  story before the media persons and said, he would move legally against the real culprits including police who conspired to sent him jail. The incident which sent Venkatesh to jail dates back to October 28, 2010 when the deceased, Yamuna Naik was  found dead in a shed near the residence of Ahmed Sadik where she and her father were used to work as daily laborers.

According to reports, in Hiredhomi located at Murudeshwara in Bhatkal of Uttara Kannada district, the deceased girl Yamuna Naik was brutally gang raped and murdered on October 28, 2010 at the residence of Mohammed Sadik where the girl and her father Nagappa served as daily labourers. After a brief search, the members of family of the girl found the dead body of the deceased in a shed near the residence of Mohammed Sadik in the late evening on the same day when she murdered. After an investigation the police found that the girl was raped before her murder. Subsequently Nagappa registered a police case against 9 suspects including Mohammed Sadik.

Communal tensions broke out in Bhatkal after Nagappa registered a police complaint inconnection with his daughter’s murder. Knowing the danger of communal violence in Bhatkal, Bhatkal police led by then DYSP M Narayan created fake evidence against innocent Venkatesh Harikanthra and forced him to admit the offence. Following pressure by the police, Venkatesh and family members of Yamuna Naik admitted the fake charges. Subsequently based on the evidence, the court sent him jail.

However, knowing the reality of the incident, Mahadevi, wife of Venkatesh moved to court with the support of Criminal Lawyer Ravikiran Murudeshwara. After a long legal battle, Karwar district court on June 28, 2017 considering the statements of 51 witness and sperm, hair samples collected from the body of Yamuna, DNA samples taken from Venkatesh announced Venkatesh is an innocent in the rape and murder case of Yamuna Naik.

Speaking in the press conference, supporting Venkatesh, Sri Rama Sena leaders said, “Venkatesh is an innocent and a victim a fake case. The police department forced Venkatesh to admit the crime and finally sent him jail to protect some members of a community. The real culprits hinding behind the scene must be punished in both cases including rape and murder of the girl and Venkatesh who lost his 6.8 years life time in jail.”

Yamuna Naik

Venkatesh Harikanthra with His Members of Family

Criminal Lawyer Ravikiran Murudeshwara