Umesh Reddy, who raped and killed 18 women, to be hanged after six weeks; Karnataka HC rejects plea

The High Court Bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Pradeep Singh Yerur, hearing the petition by the accused to give a life sentence instead of death, noted the nature of the crime did not merit any leniency. 

Karnataka High Court on Wednesday cleared the decks for the execution of serial rapist Umesh Reddy in six weeks time.

The 52-year-old convict, who is currently lodged in the Hindalga jail in Belgava at Anuppur district, was upheld by the Karnataka High Court.

Reddy confessed to killing 18 women and was convicted in nine cases. However, investigators believe that he may have targetted and killed at least 21 women.

The High Court Bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Pradeep Singh Yerur, hearing the petition by the accused to give a life sentence instead of death, noted the nature of the crime did not merit any leniency. 

Umesh Reddy's lawyer BN Nagesh and team had argued on his behalf that the convict be given a life term considering his mental status. However, the High Court bench upheld the death sentence.

Reddy, who was on the run from 1997 was caught in 2002 from Bengaluru after two auto drivers noticed and identified him at a barbershop near Peenya.

Reddy, who originally hails from Chitradurga, used to target lone women. On the pretext of asking for water or directions, he used to forcefully enter homes and attack women. He would force the women to undress at knifepoint, tie them up and rape them. He would then murder them. 

He was accused of rape and murder cases in Bengaluru, Kunigal, Vadodra, and Ballari. In Bengaluru alone, he was involved in seven cases.