A local court in Gangavathi town, Koppal district, North Karnataka, has handed the death penalty to six individuals for the murder of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader Venkatesh Kurubara, aged 34. The convicted individuals, namely Ravi, Vijay, Dhanraj, Bharat, Saleem Mohammad Rafeeq, and Gangadhara Gouli, were also fined Rs 3 lakh each. The verdict was issued by Judge Sadananda Nagappa Naik.
Venkatesh Kurubara was killed on October 7, 2025, in Gangavathi town due to personal enmity, sparking significant reactions in political circles. The assailants allegedly planned and executed the murder in a particularly brutal manner. Following the incident, 12 suspects were arrested, and a 927-page chargesheet was presented in court.
Tight security measures were implemented around the Gangavathi court complex before the verdict was announced. The six convicts were transported to court in separate vehicles under strict police supervision. Throughout the trial, 83 witnesses were examined, with government prosecutor Nagalakshmi representing the prosecution.
The murder, which occurred near Leelavati Hospital on Koppal Road, involved a gang ramming Venkatesh’s bike and assaulting him with machetes and iron rods. Venkatesh, who was returning from a dinner with friends after attending a religious event, was dragged to the roadside and brutally murdered. The attackers fled after their car’s tire burst in HRS Colony, where it was later discovered along with weapons.
