Mysuru court sentences man to death for raping and murdering 9-year-old girl

Mangalore Today News Network

Mysuru, Oct 17, 2026: A Mysuru court on Saturday sentenced a 32-year-old man to death for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl during the city’s Dasara festivities in October 2025.

Judge Anil P. Vaghade of the Fast Track Special Court-1 (FTSC-1) pronounced the verdict after examining the evidence presented during the trial.

The victim had travelled to Mysuru from Kalaburagi with her family to sell balloons during the festival. The family was staying in a tent near the Dasara exhibition grounds when the crime occurred, triggering widespread outrage across Karnataka.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place on October 9, 2025, when the accused, Karthik, allegedly abducted the girl while she was sleeping with her family at their temporary shelter. He sexually assaulted and murdered her before fleeing the scene.

The Nazarbad police registered a case and arrested Karthik within 24 hours of the incident. The investigation was completed, and a chargesheet was filed before the court within three months.

Karthik, a resident of Siddalingapura on the outskirts of Mysuru, was reportedly employed as a bus cleaner on the Mysuru-Kollegal route.

During the trial, the prosecution presented forensic and scientific evidence to establish his involvement in the crime. The court considered the post-mortem report prepared by the forensic department of the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), DNA test results and other forensic reports from the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Bengaluru.

Government prosecutor Jayanti represented the state and argued that the evidence established the accused’s guilt. After finding him guilty, the court imposed the death penalty.

Former Mysuru MP Pratap Simha welcomed the verdict and commended the police and judiciary for their role in the case. He said the incident had deeply distressed residents and brought shame to the city.