Mysuru Fast-Track Court Hands Death Sentence to Man for Child's Rape and Murder During Dasara

In a fast-track trial, a Mysuru court sentenced 32-year-old Karthik to death for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl who was selling balloons at the Dasara festival in October 2025. The girl, originally from Kalaburagi, was staying in a tent near the exhibition grounds when Karthik allegedly abducted her while she slept, assaulted her and left her dead. Police from Nazarbad filed a case and apprehended Karthik within a day, filing a chargesheet within three months.

The court, presided over by Judge Anil P. Vaghade, considered post-mortem reports, DNA tests and other forensic findings from the Mysore Medical College and the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Bengaluru. Government prosecutor Jayanti presented the evidence, leading to the conviction, and former MP Pratap Simha welcomed the verdict, noting the incident’s deep impact on Karnataka residents.