Karnataka HC sentences dead man to rigorous imprisonment

Six years after sentencing a man - who has been dead for the last eight years - to a three-month rigorous imprisonment, a division bench of Karnataka High Court recently withdrew its earlier order.

It all began in 1999 when Swamygowda and Basavaraju were charged with attempt to murder, culpable homicide and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

The court during the trial in 2004 found the two accused not guilty of attempt to murder and culpable homicide, however, both were charged with  voluntarily causing grievous hurt. They were then sentenced to pay a fine.

The prosecution, however, then approached the court requesting for much sterner punishment. The court finally, in 2010 modified its previous order and sentenced both to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three months and a fine of ₹ 50,000.

The court, however, was not informed that  Swamygowda had died on March 22, 2008. The entire issue came to light only after the deceased's wife filed an application earlier this year requesting the court to recall the 2010 judgement against her husband.

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