20-yr Rigorous Imprisonment For Four Convicted In Thota Bengre Gangrape
The incident occurred on the evening of November 17, 2018, when the victim had gone to Tota Bengre beach with her friend. While the two were sitting and talking, seven men allegedly approached them, dragged her friend away and assaulted him before gang-raping the woman
Mangaluru: The II Additional District and Sessions Court has sentenced four men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting them in the 2018 gang rape of a young woman at Thota Bengre beach in Mangaluru. Three other accused, who were juveniles at the time of the incident, were tried separately before the Juvenile Justice Board.
The incident occurred on the evening of November 17, 2018, when the victim had gone to Tota Bengre beach with her friend. While the two were sitting and talking, seven men allegedly approached them, dragged her friend away and assaulted him before gang-raping the woman. The accused also allegedly threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the incident.
The survivor did not immediately report the incident out of fear. However, two days later, when the accused allegedly called her and asked her to meet them again, she informed her family about the incident and lodged a complaint at the Mangaluru Women Police Station.
Based on her complaint, police registered a case under Sections 376(D) (gang rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Sections 3(1)(w)(i) and 3(2)(v)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The four adult accused were identified as Prajwal alias Pajju, Arun Amin alias Arun S, Aditya Salian alias Aditya and Abdul Riyaz alias Riyaz. They were arrested and produced before the court, while the remaining three accused, who were juveniles, were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
The investigation was initially taken up by Mangaluru Women Police Station inspector Kalavathi. It was later continued by Mangaluru North ACP Manjunath Shetty. Subsequently, IPS officer Srinivasa Gowda conducted a detailed investigation, collected evidence and filed the charge sheet before the II Additional District and Sessions Court.
The case was tried as Special Case with Special Public Prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak representing the State.
On July 27, 2026, the court held the four accused guilty after considering the evidence placed on record and the testimony of witnesses.
On July 30, II Additional District and Sessions Judge Jagadeesh VN sentenced each of the four convicts to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 under Section 376(D) of the IPC.
The court also sentenced under Sections 354, 506, 323 and 341 of the IPC, along with fines. The sentences will run concurrently.
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) has sanctioned Rs 60,000 as compensation to the survivor.
