Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (RJP)
Puttur, Apr 9: Fifth additional district sessions court judge M Ramachandra has pronounced the quantum of sentence in a case where the convict Masood had stolen cash and gold from a doctor's house. Five years of rigorous punishment and Rs 3,000 fine have been slapped on the convict. He will have to undergo 6 months jail if he fails to pay the fine.
On July 27 2006, the convict Masood from K R Pura in Chikkamagaluru district went to Dr Shivashankar Shastry's house in Nelyady of Puttur taluk in the guise of a patient seeking treatment, threatened the doctor and his wife during the time of check up with swords, and robbed them of their valuables.
Dr Shivashankar Shastry was taking bath on the fateful day when his wife, Vasanti S, informed that some patients had come there to get treated by him. The 'patient' was accompanied by two others. When the fake patient was asked to lie down on table and the doctor was checking his body functions, he suddenly drew out a sword and threatened the couple. His two accomplices also flashed knives, and threatened the doctor and his wife to part with their belongings.
After tying up the doctor and his wife inside a room of the house, the gang took away gold ornaments worth Rs 2.13 lac as per the value prevailing then, apart from Rs 22,000 in cash from a cupboard and a LPG cylinder.
The couple had later succeeded in freeing themselves, and complaining to Uppinangady police with the support of neighbours.
The rural police circle inspector K Manjunath Rai, had investigated the case. Masood alias Masoor, Muhammed Bawa, Abbas, Dileep, Eshwar and Sayyed Zainuddin from K R Pura, Chikkamagaluru district were later arrested and gold, cash, and LPG cylinder were recovered from their possession.
Masood had remained absent from court hearings without permission. A warrant was issued for his arrest and the police later arrested him on the basis of this warrant. They were taking him to the district sub-jail at Mangaluru on May 23, 2012, when Masood had fled from the policemen at Kabaka. He was re-arrested in May 2014 and the trial continued.
Fifth additional district sessions court judge M Ramachandrra had delivered the judgement on March 30 and reserved quantum of sentence to April 4. The sentence was pronounced on April 8.