Pradeep Poojary case: Five special teams formed to arrest accused, says Udupi SP

Pradeep Poojary case: Five special teams formed to arrest accused, says Udupi SP

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, November 3, 2026: District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar has clarified that five special police teams have been formed to arrest those accused of assaulting Pradeep Poojary in connection with his suicide and related cases.

He also warned that strict action would be taken against those circulating photographs of the alleged rape survivor and spreading false information on social media.

Addressing the media, the SP said the young woman had first lodged a complaint against Pradeep on November 10, 2025, alleging that he had threatened to kill her if she refused to marry him. Pradeep was arrested in connection with this case.

After securing bail, Pradeep allegedly took the woman to a place called Doddapade on the morning of November 29, 2025, threatened her and sexually assaulted her. A separate complaint was subsequently registered in this regard.

According to the SP, the rape allegation was substantiated by the woman’s statement and medical records. Based on this evidence, the police filed a chargesheet in the case.

The third incident reportedly took place on November 28, 2026. According to the police, Pradeep allegedly attempted to kill the woman when she came out after taking a bath and threw chilli powder at her mother.

The SP said an audio recording purportedly contains Pradeep explicitly threatening to kill the woman. He also clarified that claims that Pradeep had been kidnapped were far from the truth. Medical records confirming that the woman and her mother were admitted to hospital following the incident were also available, he said.

According to Hariram Shankar, the woman’s mother subsequently called her relatives to the spot. Around seven to eight people allegedly assaulted Pradeep. Following the assault, police reached the location and shifted him to hospital.

The SP disclosed that the complaint regarding the assault on Pradeep had initially been registered as a non-cognisable (NC) case instead of an FIR. The Sub-Inspector concerned has already been suspended for failing to register an FIR, and a departmental inquiry is underway.

A separate complaint has also been registered alleging abetment to suicide. Five special teams have been formed to trace and arrest the accused, and efforts are underway in this regard.

"Nobody has the right to take the law into their own hands," the SP said.

Expressing serious concern over developments on social media over the past two days, Hariram Shankar said photographs of the young woman were being circulated to defame and harass her.

He stressed that publishing or sharing the identity or photographs of a rape survivor is illegal. The police have already identified around 150 social media accounts allegedly involved in circulating derogatory content about the woman, he revealed.

The SP warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading misinformation or posting defamatory content without verifying the facts.