Karnataka Sessions Court Awards Death Penalty in Hampi Gang Rape and Murder Case

A Sessions Court in Karnataka’s Koppal district has sentenced three men to death for the gang rape of a foreign tourist and the murder of an Indian male tourist near Hampi in 2025. The court held that the case fell within the “rarest of rare” category warranting capital punishment.

Background of the Case
The incident occurred on March 6, 2025, near Sanapura Lake, close to Hampi, a prominent heritage destination in Karnataka. A group of tourists had reportedly gathered near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal when they were approached by three men on a motorcycle.

According to the prosecution, the accused initially demanded money from the group. When resistance was met, the assailants allegedly pushed three male tourists into the canal. While two survived, one tourist from Odisha drowned. The two women in the group, including an Israeli national, were subjected to sexual assault. The accused also allegedly robbed the victims before fleeing.

Charges and Conviction
The three accused were charged under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other relevant criminal laws, including:

• Murder
• Gang rape
• Attempt to murder
• Robbery

After examining witness testimonies, medical evidence, forensic reports, and other material on record, the Sessions Court convicted all three accused.

Sentencing
While awarding the death penalty for the offence of murder, the court also imposed additional sentences, including life imprisonment for the offence of gang rape and other related crimes. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The court observed that the brutality of the crime, the vulnerability of the victims, and the impact on society justified the imposition of capital punishment.

Legal Position
Under Indian law, a death sentence awarded by a Sessions Court must be confirmed by the jurisdictional High Court before it can be executed. The matter will now be placed before the Karnataka High Court for confirmation proceedings.

Broader Context
The case had attracted widespread attention due to the involvement of a foreign national and the location of the crime near an internationally recognized heritage site. The incident raised concerns regarding tourist safety and law enforcement preparedness in popular travel destinations.

Further proceedings will depend on the outcome of the High Court’s confirmation and any subsequent appellate remedies available to the convicts.

Discription: A Sessions Court in Koppal district, Karnataka, on February 16, 2026, sentenced three men to death for the gang rape of a foreign tourist and the murder of an Indian male tourist near Hampi in March 2025. The court classified the case as falling within the “rarest of rare” category, warranting capital punishment. The incident occurred near Sanapura Lake when a group of tourists was allegedly attacked, robbed, and assaulted. One male tourist drowned after being pushed into a canal, while two women were subjected to sexual assault. The accused were convicted under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder, gang rape, attempted murder, and robbery. In addition to the death penalty for murder, the court imposed life imprisonment for other offences, with sentences running concurrently. The death sentence is subject to confirmation by the Karnataka High Court.