In a significant development aimed at ensuring a transparent inquiry, the Udupi police have transferred the investigation into an alleged assault incident involving their personnel to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The decision was announced by Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar on Wednesday.
Case Handed Over for Fairness and Transparency
SP Hariram Shankar stated that the order to move both the main case and the related counter-case to the CID was taken to guarantee a completely fair, transparent, and impartial investigation. This move comes amidst serious allegations of police misconduct against a woman during an arrest operation in Brahmavar.
Roots in a 2014 Accident Case
The chain of events that led to the confrontation traces back to a road accident case from the year 2014. According to official police accounts, on December 9, a court issued an order related to a punishment in that decade-old case. The directive required the accused, identified as Ashiq, to deposit a sum of Rs 20 lakh along with applicable interest before the court.
As the accused failed to comply with the court's order—neither appearing before it nor depositing the mandated amount—the court took further action. It issued an order directing the Malpe police station to arrest Ashiq and produce him before the PCJ & CJM court in Udupi on or before December 17.
Altercation During Arrest Attempt
Acting on this court directive and to execute the arrest warrant, a team from the Malpe police station proceeded to the accused's residence located in Brahmavar. During the course of this official duty, the police claim that two women at the house obstructed them from performing their lawful responsibilities.
This alleged obstruction led to a confrontation, following which a formal case was registered at the Brahmavar police station. The incident sparked allegations from the women's side that they were assaulted by the police personnel during the altercation.
The situation has drawn attention from local community leaders. Praveen M Poojary, the president of the Udupi district Billava Yuva Vedike, has publicly urged authorities to conduct a fair investigation into the entire episode. The transfer to the CID is seen as a direct response to such calls for an unbiased probe, distancing the initial investigating agency from the inquiry into its own personnel's actions.
