Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Nov 16: The state high court, which found that the lower court was right in finding Mohan Kumar alias Cyanide Mohan guilty in the case of murdering Sunanda from Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada district by making her consume cyanide, confirmed the death sentence awarded to him by that court.
It may be recalled that the high court had cancelled death penalties awarded to Mohan in the case of murders of Anita from Bantwal taluk and Leelavathi from Venoor in Beltangady taluk by feeding cyanide to them last month. But this time, it did not find any reason to interfere with the lower court's finding. In an order issued on Wednesday November 15, it confirmed the death sentence.
The high court bench comprising Justices Ravi Malimath and John Michael Cunha, concluded that Sunanda was led to Mysuru by Mohan by offering to marry her after which she was murdered by giving her cyanide. The bench found that the accused had sold ornaments belonging to Sunanda and this fact had been proved with the help of supporting evidences. Therefore, it held him guilty of murder, robbery, as well as cheating and confirmed death sentence awarded by the lower court. At the same time, he was absolved of the charge of rape.
The court found that Mohan faces 20 murder cases and he is neither emotional, apologetic, compassionate or remorseful. The bench said that he is not fit to live in the society as he poses danger to the lives of innocent women.
Mohan was facing the charge of taking Sunanda from Sullia to Mysuru after promising to marry here on Februaryu 11, 2008, staying with her in a lodge behind the KSRTC bus stand there, and developing sexual relationship with her. He then led her to the bus stand, and gave her cyanide in the pretext of contraceptive pill as a result of which she collapsed to the ground and died in the bus stand. Mohan had returned to the lodge thereafter and taken away ornaments belonging to Sunanda before fleeing.
Mohan, who has been arguing his cases himself, had pleaded in the court against awarding him death sentence, pointing out that he has been absolved of the charges of kidnap and rape. But the additional state public prosecutor, Vijayakumar Majage, sought confirmation of the death sentence.