A District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru sentenced Sanjay Poojary to four years of simple imprisonment and imposed a total fine of ₹20,500 on finding him guilty of attempting to murder one Prathyush Saliyan near Nandigudde Circle in Mangaluru in 2023, as the latter had defeated the former in an online game.
The second Additional District and Sessions Judge V.N. Jagadeesh, on Saturday, sentenced Poojary to four years and imposed a fine of ₹10,000 for the offence punishable under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The Judge also sentenced him to one year of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹2,000 for each of the offences punishable under Sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 326 (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.
Further, the Judge imposed a fine of ₹500 for the offence under Section 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC. All sentences will run concurrently, the Judge said.
The Judge further directed that out of the total fine of ₹20,500, a sum of ₹15,500 will be paid to Prathyush Saliyan as compensation under Section 357 (compensation paid by convicted person to victim) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The remaining ₹5,000 shall be remitted to the State, the Judge said.
As per the chargesheet, the team led by Prathyush Saliyan had defeated the team led by Sanjay Poojary in the ‘Free Fire’ online video game. On May 17, 2023, as Saliyan was walking towards Nandigudde from his house in Jeppu Bappal, Poojary came on a scooter and waylaid Saliyan near the flagpost in Nandigudde 3rd Cross around 3.30 p.m. Abusing Saliyan for defeating his team, Poojary tried to stab Saliyan on the right side of his chest. Saliyan, in the process of stopping him, hurt his right hand. Poojary then stabbed Saliyan below his chest. Saliyan raised his voice, and his family members and friends rushed towards him. Poojary threatened Saliyan and left on his scooter.
On the complaint by Saliyan, who was admitted to a private hospital, the Mangaluru South Police registered a case and arrested Poojary. Police Sub Inspector Sheetal Alaguru investigated the case, while PSI P. Manohar Prasad filed the chargesheet. Jyoti Nayak represented the prosecution before the court.
Published – February 01, 2026 07:20 pm IST
