In a significant move, the Karnataka Koppal Sessions Court on Tuesday sentenced three men to death in relation to the murder and rape case of an Odia tourist by the Hampi gang.
In rendering its decision, the court described the offense as being in the "rarest of rare" category.
Convicts Given the Death Penalty
Sai, Sharanappa, and Mallesh alias Handimalla were convicted of gang raping two women and killing an Odisha tourist who was a man throughout the crime. They were judged accountable by the court for the vicious attack and ensuing murder.

March 2025 was the month of the crime.
The crime happened on March 6, 2025, when a group of five individuals—among them a local guesthouse owner and a female Israeli tourist—went to observe the stars near the Tungabhadra canal near Hampi.
The accused forced three guys into the canal, assaulted the group, and sexually abused two women, according to the prosecution. Two of the men were able to swim back to safety, but Bibash Kumar, an Odia tourist, drowned.
Nationwide Outrage Was Sparked by the Incident
Due to the severity of the crime, the case, which was filed at the Gangavathi Rural Police Station close to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi, attracted national attention.Shortly after the incident, the accused was taken into custody by the police. The survivors were treated at a hospital after medical examinations verified sexual assault.

The court's decision to impose the death penalty marked a major judicial resolution to one of the most horrifying crimes in the area.