The 1st Additional District and Sessions Judge sentenced the 11 accused to three years imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹77,000.
Judge Eranna on February 11 pronounced the sentence in connection with a case registered at the Saidapur police station in 2014. According to the statement of Gurulingappa Srimantha Teli, public prosecutor, the convicts are Shankrappa Gowda Giriyappa Gowda Police Patil, Shantureddy Giriyappa Gowda Gowda Gowda Police Patil, Vendogana, Police Police Chanappa Patil, Basdaya Gowdappa Gowda, Reddeppa Basanna Sheksindi, Bannappa. Lakshman Shekhsindi, Hanumanth Erappa Bagali, Husenappa Basavaraj Bagali, Mallappa Basavaraj Uppar, Maraya Bhimanna Uppar and Bhimanna Rachanna Hugar.
Police registered charges under Sections 143, 147, 341, 436 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after they allegedly set a hotel and a grocery store on fire. Residents of Neelahalli village, Sharanayyaswamy Hiremath and brothers shared a site near the Hanuman temple in the village where Prashant, son of Sharanayyaswamy and Bannayyaswamy, ran a hotel and grocery store.
However, the accused objected to their business and demanded that they vacate the hotel and grocery store, claiming the place belonged to the temple, the report said.
On March 18, 2014, the accused set fire to a hotel and a grocery store. Items worth ₹1,22,000 were destroyed and further the accused prevented those who came to douse the flames.
Subsequently, the police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Sharanayyaswamy Hiremath. The police submitted a charge sheet to the court.
The accused were found guilty in court.
Published – 13 Feb 2026 23:05 IST