Last year’s horrific incident near the historic city of Hampi shocked not only India but the entire world. A court has sentenced three people convicted of wreaking havoc on tourists enjoying music under the stars on the banks of Sanapur Lake.

Hampi Rape & Murder Case: Last year’s horrific incident near the historic city of Hampi shocked not only India but the entire world. The court has sentenced three convicts to death for wreaking havoc on tourists enjoying music under the stars on the banks of Sanapur Lake. Gangavathi Civil Court Judge Sadanand Nagappa Naik has described the case as “rarest of rare.”

That dark night and the orgy of brutality
The date was March 6, 2025. Around 11 p.m., on the banks of Sanapur Lake near Hampi, a homestay operator and his four guests (tourists from Maharashtra, Odisha, the United States, and Israel) were playing guitar outdoors. Three young men—Mallesh, Sharanabasava, and Chaitanya Sai—arrived on a motorcycle to disrupt the peaceful and musical atmosphere.

The bloody game began on the pretext of asking for petrol
The accused first asked for the address of a petrol pump and then started demanding money forcibly. When the tourists protested, the dispute escalated. To maintain peace, tourist Bibhas from Odisha gave them Rs. 20, seeing which the accused became furious. The accused pushed three male tourists into a deep canal. Bibhas died by drowning in this accident. The brutes gang raped the homestay operator and the Israeli female tourist. While leaving, they also looted their bags, mobile phones and cash.

Death warrant stamped in 10 months
This incident severely damaged India’s image internationally. Given the gravity of the case, it was tried in a fast-track court. After just 10 months of hearings, the court delivered its historic verdict:

February 7, 2026: All three accused were found guilty.

February 16, 2026: The judge ordered death penalty (hanging) for all three.

Court’s comment: A blot on society
The court stated in its verdict that such brutality against tourists is a blight on society. This verdict is a victory for justice for the victims who not only suffered physical and mental torture that night but also lost a loved one forever.

PC:Punjab Kesari