Udupi: Advocate sentenced to life for defrauding his clients

Udupi:  An advocate practicing in Udupi courts has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Principal District and Sessions Court in Udupi on Friday for defrauding his clients.

Alevoor Premaraj Kini was accused of forging documents of his clients and withdrawing the deceased’s insurance money. Two other persons were also named in the case including Vinayakumar who has been sentenced to simple imprisonment with a maximum of five years and fines and cases against Harishchandra Acharya had abated after his death.

It is said that the victim Chambu’s wife, Kundadu had died in an accident in May 2002. They had later filed an appeal in the Udupi court seeking compensation.

Later, the Karnataka High Court awarded Rs 2,57,549 as enhanced compensation to  Chambu towards the death of his wife.

On May 27, 2011, the insurance company had also deposited the money with interest in court. But advocate Premaraj Kini forged the documents, opened bank accounts and misappropriated the amount.

The court also ordered that apart from the fines, the accused must pay Rs 3 lakh to the original applicants.