Cyanide Mohan convicted for rape and murder of Bantwal woman

Mangaluru, Feb 24: Notorious rapist and serial killer Mohan Kumar aka Cyanide Mohan, who had helped saffron groups to spread false rumors of so called “love jihad” and create communal riots, was on Friday convicted by the sixth additional district and sessions court in the murder case of a 28-year-old woman of Maladi of Meginamane in Bantwal Taluk. This is the fifth case of conviction among 20 murder cases filed against him.

Mohan, a teacher, allegedly poisoned about 20 young women to death using cyanide between 2003 and 2009 was convicted in four cases and was awarded the death sentence in 2013. In the fifth case, which took place in September, 2009, Mohan was found guilty and the quantum of punishment will be announced on February 24. He was convicted under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage), 376 (rape), 417 (cheating), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 392 (robbery) and 201 (destruction of evidence).

Cyanide Mohan had first contacted the victim at Madanthyar bus stand and introduced himself as Shashidhar Poojary and obtained her mobile phone number. Later he befriended with her and promised of marrying her. He asked her to come to BC Road Bus stand and took her to Hassan on September 24, 2009. Both stayed at ‘Ganesh Lodge’ in Hassan and had sexual intercourse.

The next day, Mohan asked her to remove all her gold ornaments, saying that they need to offer pooja in a nearby temple. Instead of going to the temple, he took her to Hassan bus stand. Later, on the pretext of providing her with a pill to prevent pregnancy, he made her  consume cyanide at women’s toilet in Hassan bus stand. After confirming the victim’s death, he returned to Ganesh lodge and made away with her gold ornaments. Later, he sold those gold ornaments to a jewellery merchant in city.

Puttur Additional Superintendent of Police Chandragupta and his team arrested the accused on September 21, 2010 and filed a charge-sheet at the court. When the case came to hearing at Sixth Additional and Sessions Court on February 23, Judge D T Puttarangawamy upheld the arguments of Public Prosecutor Judith O M Crasta and convicted the accused. Before the conviction, the judge examined 39 witnesses, 43 documents and 48 material objects. The quantum of the punishment will be announced on February 24.