Six of the eight accused in the brutal gang-rape of a 21-year-old law student on Bangalore University’s Jnanabharati campus on October 10, 2012, were convicted on Wednesday by the V Additional City Civil and Sessions Court. They will get a minimum of 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a maximum of life. The sentence will be pronounced on Friday.
The trial has created judicial history by convicting the accused in just 13 sittings, the fastest verdict the country has seen. The previous record was 17 sittings in a case in Tamil Nadu.
Judge K B Sangannanavar convicted Ramu, Doddairayya, Shivanna, Maddura, Yeleyayya and Irayya of Ramangaram and Mattaradodigudda.
Trial of the seventh accused, a juvenile, is still on at the Juvenile Justice Court, while the eighth accused, Raja, is still absconding.
All six were convicted under IPC Sections 376 2 (g), where the punishment is rigorous imprisonment for not less than ten years, but maybe for life. The accused shall also be liable to pay fine.
All eight were aged between 17 and 25 when the crime was committed. They are all believed to be sandalwood smugglers.