Court in Karnataka Clears 40 Defendants in 2012 Mangaluru Homestay Assault Case

The Mangaluru Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court acquitted 40 persons on Tuesday. The police had booked a case against 44 individuals in connection with the incident.

Of the accused, three died during trial, and the charges against a journalist were dropped by the government. The incident took place on July 28, 2012, when members of the Hindu Jagaran Vedike attacked a birthday party attended by young men and women at the Morning Mist homestay near Padil in Mangaluru.

Following a probe, the Mangaluru Rural Police submitted a charge-sheet against the 44 accused individuals. The attack was allegedly led by Hindutva leader Subhash Padil, who claimed that young people were engaging in indecent activities after consuming alcohol.

During the attack, the Hindu Jagaran Vedike members allegedly stripped the women and assaulted at least 12 persons. Two video journalists were also arrested in connection with the case.

The case against one of the journalists was withdrawn by the government led by CM Siddaramaiah, leading to his acquittal in 2018. Additionally, the State Women’s Commission investigated the incident and submitted a report to then Home Minister R. Ashoka, recommending a probe by a team headed by a DIG-rank officer due to the ‘police failure’ and the nature of the attack.

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