Man sentenced to death for murder of his three children

Man sentenced to death for murder of his three children

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 1, 2025: A Mangaluru court sentenced to death a 43-year-old resident of Punaroor, near Mulky, on finding him guilty of murdering his three children and attempting to murder his wife by pushing them into an open well in 2022.

The 3rd Additional District and Sessions judge S. Sandhya sentenced Hithesh Shettigar to death for the offence punishable under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Judge said Shettigar should undergo death penalty by way of hanging until his last breath.

The judge further sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment and fined him ₹10,000 for the offence punishable under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC. She directed her office to submit entire records of the case to the Karnataka High Court for confirmation of the death sentence that has been imposed.

Shettigar was charged of murdering his three children – Rashmika, 14, Uday Kumar, 11, Dakshit, 4 – in the open well of his neighbour Ashok Shettigar’s land around 5 p.m. on June 23, 2022. When Shettigar’s wife Laxmi came to the well in search of her children 30 minutes later, Shettigar pushed her into the well too. Passers-by arrived soon after and rescued Laxmi. The children had died when they were fished out of the water.

On a complaint by Laxmi, the Mulky Police arrested Hitesh Shettigar. Police Inspector K. Kusumadhar filed a chargesheet against him. Prosecutor Mohan Kumar administered evidence of 32 witnesses, including that of Laxmi, before the court.

In her judgement on Tuesday, the judge said adequate compensation should be paid to victim Laxmi as per Section 357(1)(b) of Criminal Procedure Code. She directed her office to send copy of the judgement to District Legal Services Authority for needful action.