Death penalty for rape and murder of minor in Mysuru Dasara

A special court for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) in Mysuru has sentenced to death a man convicted of raping and murdering a minor girl during the 2025 Dasara celebrations.

On October 17, Karthik (32) was sentenced to death by hanging, Special Public Prosecutor KB Jayanthi told The Hindu.

The victim belonged to a family from Kalaburagi who had come to Mysuru during Dasara to sell balloons and toys. The family slept in makeshift tents near Doddakere Maidan.

After the girl went missing, her family lodged a complaint with the police. Subsequently, her body was found near Doddakere Maidan. The accused, a resident of Mysuru, was arrested.

Ms Jayanthi said the conviction was secured on evidence of rape, murder and destruction of evidence.

“Digital evidence played a key role in the case. We also had medical evidence, circumstantial evidence and several other pieces of evidence,” she said.

Ms. Jayanthi expressed satisfaction at the verdict handed down about a year after the crime, saying the sentence brought some measure of justice to the victim’s family.

“We can’t bring the child back to life, but we made sure her family got justice,” she said, hoping the sentence would serve as a warning to those who commit such crimes.

Published – 17 October 2026 5:00 PM IST