Kasargod: Devaloka couple murder case; Accused sorcerer acquitted

Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod , June 2, 2019: The Kerala High Court which was hearing the sensational  case of murder of Srikrishna Bhat (45) and his wife  Srimathi (45) of Devaloka near Perla which took place in the year 1993, has acquitted  sorcerer S H Imam Hussain of Sagar in Karnataka on the grounds of lack of evidence to prove the charges against him.

Bhat and his wife were murdered on the night of October 9, 1993.  Srikrishna Bhat had sought the help of sorcerer Hussain to  trace the treasure which was said  to be in his plantation.  The sorcerer who had got a pit dug which was suffice for a person  to stand in Bhat’s coconut plantation had asked him to step into the pit and pray with closed eyes. Prior to that he had  given water mixed with sleeping pills to the couple after making them believe that it was prasadam.

 As Bhat had stepped into the pit the sorcerer had smashed his head with a pick-axe and had later  smothered Srimathi who was lying unconscious at home. He had later escaped with  cash and eight sovereigns gold from the house.

After the Badiadka police failed to nab the accused even 15 years after the murder, the case was handed over to the Crime Branch in 2008. It was after 19 years after the murder that Hussain was arrested from Nelamangala.

The Kasargod Additional  District Sessions Court which  had conducted the hearing, in its judgement on November 21, 2013 has sentenced the accused to two life terms apart from imposing a penalty of Rs 2 lakhs.

The accused had moved the High Court challenging the lower court order, even while he was behind bars.