A first additional district and sessions court in Gangavathi, Koppal district, on Thursday sentenced six individuals to death and imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh each for the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha city unit president Venkatesh Kurubar, also known as JNN Venki, in October 2025. Six other accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Verdict and Court Proceedings
Judge Sadanand Nagappa Nayak delivered the verdict after a brief 15-minute hearing and symbolically broke his pen, a traditional gesture indicating a death sentence. The court directed that the fine amount be paid to the victim's family. Family members of the convicts broke down in the courtroom following the pronouncement. The convicts have the option to appeal the verdict in the high court.
The Murder
Venkatesh Kurubar, 31, was killed on October 8, 2025, near Leelavati Hospital on Raichur-Lingsugur Road in Gangavathi. He was returning home 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 succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Convicted and Acquitted
The six convicted individuals are Ravi Basavaraj, Vijay alias Mailari Hanumanthappa, Dhanaraj Laxmanrao, Bheema alias Bharat Kariyappa, Saleem Mohammed Rafiq, and Gangadhar Gouli Baburao. Those acquitted include Karthik, Dadapeer, Mohammed Altaf, Mallikarjun, Hartoti Sharan, and Chaitra.
Investigation and Motive
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 others surrendered at Kampli police station in Ballari district and confessed to the crime.
