Koppal: A first additional district and sessions court in Gangavathi Thursday sentenced six persons to death and fined them Rs 3 lakh each for the murder of BJP Yuva Morcha city unit president Venkatesh Kurubar alias JNN Venki last Oct. Six others were acquitted for lack of evidence. The court directed that the fine be paid to the victim’s family.Judge Sadanand Nagappa Nayak delivered the verdict after a brief 15-minute hearing and symbolically broke his pen. Family members of the convicts broke down in court. Those convicted are Ravi Basavaraj, Vijay alias Mailari Hanumanthappa, Dhanaraj Laxmanrao, Bheema alias Bharat Kariyappa, Saleem Mohammed Rafiq and Gangadhar Gouli Baburao. The convicts have the option to appeal in the high court. Kurubar, 31, was killed on Oct 8, 2025, near Leelavati Hospital on Raichur-Lingsugur Road in Gangavathi. He was riding back after meeting friends when the assailants chased him in a car, rammed his two-wheeler, knocked him down and hacked him with machetes and other weapons. He later succumbed to his injuries. The murder, which sparked political outrage, was found to be premeditated and rooted in longstanding personal enmity. Police launched a massive manhunt and arrested several accused, while four surrendered at Kampli police station in Ballari district and confessed. Those acquitted are Karthik, Dadapeer, Mohammed Altaf, Mallikarjun, Hartoti Sharan and Chaitra.Points for gfx:JUDGMENT DAYSix sentenced to death for Venkatesh Kurubar’s murderRs 3 lakh fine on each convictSix others acquitted due to lack of evidenceAttack was premeditated, driven by personal enmityConvicts allowed to appeal in high court
