Karnataka court convicts three for gang rape of foreign tourist, murder near Hampi

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 7, 2026: A court in Karnataka’s Koppal district has convicted three men in connection with the gang rape of two women, including a foreign national, and the murder of a male tourist near Hampi.

The court will pronounce the sentence on February 16 after hearing the convicts, police sources said.

The incident took place in March 2025 near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal at Sanapura, close to the World Heritage site of Hampi. According to police, the accused—identified as Mallesh, Sai and Sharanappa—approached an Israeli tourist, a homestay operator, and three male tourists on the night of March 6, demanding money.

When the group refused, the trio allegedly assaulted them, pushing the three male tourists into the canal and sexually assaulting the two women. While two of the men managed to swim to safety, a tourist from Odisha drowned.

On Friday, the court found the accused guilty of offences including murder, gang rape, rape, attempt to murder and robbery under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The convicts were physically produced before the court, police said.