Mangaluru: Man gets life imprisonment for killing friend over mobile phone dispute

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 13, 2026: The Second Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday sentenced a 50-year-old man to life imprisonment for murdering his friend in 2024 following a dispute over a damaged mobile phone.

The convict, identified as Dharmaraj Suvarna, a resident of Thota Bengre, was found guilty of murdering Muttu Basavaraj Vaddar alias Mudukappa, 39, a native of Bagalkot.

Judge Jagadish pronounced the verdict on October 12, sentencing Suvarna to life imprisonment under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000. In default of payment, he will have to undergo an additional six months of simple imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, the accused and the victim had known each other for a few days. Suvarna had recently purchased a new mobile phone, which Muttu Basavaraj had taken but failed to return. A dispute broke out between them after the phone was damaged. During the altercation, Suvarna allegedly assaulted Vaddar with a wooden log, killing him.

Panambur police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Hanumantha Durgappa Vaddar.

After committing the crime, Suvarna fled the state. However, police tracked him down and arrested him in the early hours of September 26, 2024, within the limits of Chombala police station in Kozhikode district, Kerala.

Panambur Police Inspector Mohammed Saleem Abbas conducted the initial investigation. Subsequently, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were invoked, and ACP Srikanth K of the Mangaluru North Subdivision took over the investigation and filed the chargesheet.

Special Public Prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak represented the state in the case.