{
  "id": 15223089,
  "title": "Rarest of rare’: Mysuru court sentences man to death for rape and murder of 9-yr-old girl",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/rarest-of-rare-mysuru-court-sentences-man-to-death-for-rape-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T15:15:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/mysuru-special-pocso-court-death-penalty-convict-karthik-rape-murder-nine-year-old-dasara-festival-doddakere-maidan-10926120/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a shocking verdict, a Mysuru court sentenced 32-year-old Karthik to death on Saturday for the brutal rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl who had journeyed to the city during Dasara festival in 2025. The special court had previously convicted him on October 15. Special Judge Anand P Hogade presided over the Fast Track Special Court-I, which handles cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor K B Jayanthi, argued that this was a \"rarest of rare\" case and demanded the death penalty. The chargesheet presented 83 witness testimonies, documentary evidence and forensic evidence. The incident occurred on the early hours of October 9, 2025, when the girl was sleeping in a makeshift shelter near Doddakere Maidan, close to Mysuru Palace and the Dasara Exhibition Grounds. Karthik allegedly abducted the child, subjected her to sexual assault and murder, and then fled the scene. The next morning, her father discovered her absence and found her body near the shelter. Karthik was arrested by the Nazarbad police in Kollegal, Chamarajanagar district, within 24 hours. He had attempted to escape while being taken for further questioning and sustained a leg injury. Two police officers were also injured in the process. Karthik, a cleaner on a private bus, had a previous conviction in 2019 for sexual harassment and attempted murder of a woman in Kollegal. He was initially sentenced to four years in prison but was later released on bail after challenging the conviction in the High Court. This tragic case has sparked widespread outrage across Karnataka and reignited calls for swift action in sexual offenses against children.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Mysuru court sentences 32-year-old Karthik to death.",
    "Girl, 9, raped and murdered near Mysuru Palace.",
    "Karthik had prior conviction for sexual harassment in 2019."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}