Court awards death penalty to three for gang rape of Israeli tourist, murder of Odisha man in Hampi

Mangalore Today News Network

Gangavathi, Feb 17, 2026: A court in Karnataka has sentenced three men to death for the gang rape of an Israeli tourist and a homestay owner, and for the murder of a tourist from Odisha near Sanapur Lake in March 2025.

The First Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday awarded capital punishment to Mallesh (Handimalla), Saikumar and Sharanabasavaraj, all residents of Sainagar in Gangavathi taluk. The trio was convicted in both cases and sentenced to death.

The court had found the accused guilty on February 7 and reserved its order on the quantum of punishment until February 16.

According to Public Prosecutor Nagalakshmi, the homestay operator had taken the Israeli woman and three male tourists, including Bibhas Kumar from Odisha, to Sanapur Lake for stargazing on the night of March 6, 2025. The convicts allegedly approached the group, picked a quarrel, and pushed the male tourists into the Tungabhadra Left Bank canal before gang-raping the two women — the Israeli tourist and the homestay owner.

Bibhas Kumar died due to drowning in the canal. Another tourist, Pankaj, who did not know how to swim, was rescued by Daniel, the prosecutor said.

Stating that the offences included gang rape, murder, attempt to murder and extortion, Nagalakshmi said Judge Sadananda Naik imposed the death penalty under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.