Pocso case: HC commutes death sentence to life imprisonment

Dharwad: In a case under the Pocso Act, the Dharwad bench of the high court, has set aside the death sentence awarded by a Belagavi district court to Uddappa Ganiger and imposed rigorous life imprisonment instead.A division bench comprising justices HP Sandesh and B Muralidhar Pai delivered the judgment. The court also directed that compensation of Rs 5 lakh must be paid to the mother of the deceased victim.The case was registered on Sept 21, 2017, against Uddappa of Kurabagodi village in Raibag taluk of Belagavi district. The case pertains to the abduction, rape, and murder of a minor.The Belagavi district court had, on Sept 27, 2024, awarded the death penalty to Uddappa and ordered Rs 3 lakh compensation to the victim's mother. Challenging this order, the accused had approached the high court.Advocate DJ Nayak appeared on behalf of the convict.