Gangadhar Pangala Murder Case: Mangaluru Court Sentences Four to Life Imprisonment After 12 Years

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Mangaluru : The 2nd Additional District and Sessions (Special) Court in Mangaluru has sentenced four individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the 12-year-old murder case of fisherman leader Gangadhar Pangala (55), who was killed after a vehicle intentionally rammed into him near Meenakaliya in Baikampady. The convicted individuals have been identified as Satish Baikampady (58), Harish Baikampady (60), Bhaskar Baikampady (61), and Pushparaj (47). Satish Baikampady, who held key administrative positions in local organizations, harbored enmity against Gangadhar Pangala after being accused of misusing funds collected for a local temple and high school building, which led to his suspension from the Mogaveera Mahasabha.

According to the complaint, the accused conspired to eliminate Pangala in May 2014 at a closed godown in Baikampady. On the day of the incident, Pushparaj rammed a Bolero vehicle into the rear of Pangala’s scooter on the Baikampady-Meenakaliya road before fleeing the scene, while Satish, Harish, and Bhaskar followed in two separate cars to confirm his death. The vehicle used in the crime was subsequently left at a garage in Attavar under false pretenses to destroy evidence. Initially registered as a road accident, further investigation revealed it to be a pre-planned murder disguised as a collision. Following an investigation led by Panambur police officers including N.R. Mukri, Raveesh Nayak, Bhaskar Rai, and Lokesh who filed the chargesheet, Judge Jagadeesh V.N. declared the accused guilty on July 21 and announced the sentence on July 27. Public Prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak argued on behalf of the state.

The court sentenced Satish, Harish, and Bhaskar to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹15,000 each under IPC Sections 302 read with 120(B), 109, and 34, with an additional one-year simple imprisonment in case of default. Pushparaj received a life sentence and a ₹15,000 fine under IPC Sections 302 read with 120(B) and 34. Additionally, all four were sentenced to two years of simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹1,000 under Section 201 read with 34 for destroying evidence. The sentences will run concurrently. Out of the total fine amount of ₹64,000, the court ordered ₹50,000 to be handed over to the daughter of the deceased, with the remaining ₹14,000 confiscated to the government, while ordering the vehicles used in the crime to be submitted to the court within 30 days. The trial had previously faced delays until 2025 due to stay orders obtained by the accused, with primary accused Satish Baikampady also absconding for six months prior to his arrest.