Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, May 17: The State government has filed an appeal against the judgment of a local magistrate court acquitting all the accused in the infamous pub attack case of 2009.
The local magistrate court here had acquitted 26 accused persons due to lack of evidence.
Following the sanction by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sasikanth Senthil on April 28, prosecutor of the II Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court filed the appeal on May 5, before the Principal District and Sessions Court under Sections 378, 382, 386 and 391 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The case was transferred to the VI Additional District and Sessions Court, which has issued notice to 26 respondents. The case has been posted to June 27.
Pramod Muthalik after the verdict on March 12
The II JMFC Magistrate Manjunatha R, on March 12, had acquitted 26 persons including Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who were accused in the case, of the charges under Sections 143, 147, 448, 341, 342, 323, 504, 505(2), 506 and 120(B).
The case against three accused persons has been kept pending as they failed to appear before court. The case against one was abated as he died.
The attack on youngsters including women had taken place at a pub on Balmatta Road in city in January 2009. The news had made headlines throughout the world.
Following public outcry over the acquittal, the Directorate of Prosecution had asked a senior public prosecutor to study the judgment, who opined that appeal was required as more witnesses should be examined. A sanction was sought from Deputy Commissioner March 28 in this regard which was a requirement under law.