Belagavi: A local court on Friday sentenced five accused to life imprisonment in connection with the gang-rape of a minor girl in 2017. They were also fined Rs 5 lakh each.
The five — Sanju Daddi, 24, Suresh Daddi, 24, Sunil Dummagol, 21, Mahesh Shivannagol, 23, Somashekar Durabundeshwar, 23— raped the minor girl who was out on a picnic with a male friend at Muttyanatti hill.
The accused initially subjected the two to unwanted questioning. They then beat up the boy and raped the girl and recorded the act on the cellphone and threatened to circulate it if she revealed the crime to anyone.
However, the survivor and her parents mustered courage and filed a rape case at Kakati police station.
Judge Manjappa Annayyannavar pronounced the verdict under the Pocso act.
CPI Ramesh Gokaka who had arrested the five accused provided the court with all the vital evidence needed to sentence them in the heinous case.
Public prosecutor LV Patil argued in favour of the survivor.