Bringing closure to one of Karnataka’s most disturbing crimes in recent years, a Belagavi court on Wednesday sentenced 12 convicts, including six women, to rigorous imprisonment for five years in the Hosavantamuri stripping and assault case that triggered statewide outrage in December 2023.
A day after finding all the accused guilty under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the additional 10th district and sessions court, presided over by Judge H.S. Manjunath, pronounced the sentence and imposed fines on all the convicts.
The incident took place on December 11, 2023, in Hosavantamuri village of Belagavi taluk, around 10 km from Belagavi city. The victim, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community and had lodged the complaint, was allegedly dragged out of her house, stripped, paraded through the village, tied to an electric pole, and assaulted in public. The attack followed her son’s elopement with a girl who was engaged to another man.
Angered by the incident, members of the girl’s family reportedly entered her house, damaged property, hurled stones, and forcibly dragged her outside, where she was subjected to humiliation and assault. Police, who were alerted, rushed to the spot and rescued her.
Those convicted are Basappa Naik (45), Raju Naik (52), Kempanna Naik (52), Parvati Naik (37), Yallavva Naik (67), Lakkappa Naik (26), Gangavva Naik (62), Sangeeta Hegganayak (35), Santosh Naik (21), Shobha Naik (49), Lakkavva Naik (42), and Shivappa Vannur (53), all residents of the village.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, leading the Karnataka High Court to take suo motu cognisance and order a fast-track trial. The state government later handed over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
During the probe, the CID arrested 13 accused, of whom 12 were convicted, while one was found to be a minor. The agency completed the investigation and filed the chargesheet on April 22, 2024, within 133 days, citing 92 witnesses and producing 37 material exhibits.
Following the incident, the state government announced compensation of ₹5.5 lakh and two acres of land for the victim’s family. Fact-finding teams from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Women (NCW), and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) visited the village. The BJP also formed a five-member committee of MPs to examine the matter.
In April 2024, the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court granted conditional bail to the accused. The order sparked controversy after videos showing a celebratory welcome for prime accused Basappa Naik outside Hindalga Central Jail went viral.
Calling the conviction a strong message, Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem said, “Such inhuman incidents are not tolerated in a civilised society.”
The investigation was led by SP Pruthvik Shankar, assisted by DSP Anjumala and Inspector Narayani, under the supervision of senior CID officials. Special public prosecutor L.S. Sulled represented the state.
