The state government informed the High Court that all 12 individuals involved in the case of assaulting and stripping a woman in Vantamuri, Belgaum district, have been apprehended, and the charge sheet has been presented to the trial court. A division bench led by Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice Krishna S. Dixit presided over the Voluntary Public Interest Litigation filed by the High Court concerning the case.
Advocate General K. Sashikiran Shetty, who attended the trial, stated that all the individuals implicated in the case have been apprehended. The inquiry has concluded, and charges have been filed against the suspects. Additionally, compensation consisting of two acres of land and Rs. 5 lakh has been provided to the victim. He urged the trial court to establish a timeline for the case proceedings, emphasizing its exceptional nature. He further suggested issuing a cautionary message to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
The victim’s health status will be supervised, with a request for the court’s permission for her to receive bi-monthly specialized counseling over a year to address her mental well-being.
Subsequently, the court instructed the government to furnish the case report to the District Superintendent of Police. The case was concluded, with a decision to issue an order on the application in the coming days.
In Vantamuri of Belgaum district on December 11, 2023, a distressed young couple departed from their residence. Subsequently, the family of the young woman reportedly forcibly removed the mother of the young man from her home during the night, stripping her naked and subjecting her to severe physical assault while also tying her to a pole. An FIR was lodged at Kakati Police Station on December 11, 2023, regarding the incident. Following media coverage of the case, the High Court initiated a voluntary investigation.
