Thimma, a murder accused who was part of the notorious Dandupalya gang, has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking his release.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment and has already spent 18 years in prison. He, however, challenged his arrest before the Karnataka High Court claiming that he was a minor when he committed the crime in April 1998. He was arrested in October 1999. Thimma was convicted for theft and murder of one Ranganath. He was tried as a major in the lower court and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
His petition in the high court was sent to the lower court for confirmation of his age where, in two instances, the lower court had confirmed that Thimma was a minor at the time of his arrest. However, the prosecution argued that the documents produced by Thimma, including the school register, were doctored.
Thimma contended that he should have been tried as a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice Board. He has sought directions for his release from prison under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. A division bench comprising Justice B S Patil and Justice N K Sudhindra Rao adjourned the hearing.
Published 21 February 2017, 19:38 IST