Bengaluru, March 23 (NationPress) Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, announced on Monday that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will conduct the investigation into the alleged misconduct by a police inspector toward women in Moodbidri, located in the Mangaluru district.

In his address to the media in Bengaluru, he mentioned that he had instructed the State Director General of Police to forward the case to the CID for an in-depth examination, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations.

The minister noted that the Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, along with the victim, provided various details concerning the incident. This information led to the decision to assign the case to the CID for further investigation.

He highlighted that immediate measures were taken by suspending the accused police inspector shortly after the allegations emerged. The department has also been directed to prepare a report on the incident.

Parameshwara asserted that a thorough investigation was essential to uncover the complete reality of the case. “The truth will be revealed after the CID investigation, and we will find out if there are additional victims involved,” he stated.

Responding to questions regarding comments made by Pranavananda Swamiji about the Congress-led government, the minister remarked that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) operates according to its own guidelines when making decisions. He added that statements from religious figures reflect public sentiment, but decisions are made based on internal evaluations and reports.

It is important to note that last week, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy suspended Moodbidri Police Inspector Sandesh, pending a departmental inquiry, due to allegations of misconduct towards women.

The suspension order was issued on March 17 after a preliminary investigation by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), North Sub Division, Mangaluru, into complaints lodged by several women with the Karnataka State Commission for Women, claiming that the inspector had harassed them.

During a recent press briefing, two women accused the inspector of soliciting sexual favors in exchange for assistance with their official matters at the police station or, alternatively, demanding bribes.

In the suspension order, Commissioner Reddy noted that while the preliminary inquiry did not substantiate claims of soliciting sexual favors, it did validate allegations of inappropriate behavior, as evidenced by video footage showing the inspector speaking inappropriately to a woman. He was suspended based on these findings.

Suspended inspector Sandesh has also been accused of asserting that he had paid Rs 40 lakh to Home Minister G. Parameshwara to secure his position, claiming that no action could be taken against him while also allegedly threatening a complainant.

In a separate case, the Venoor police in Mangaluru have filed a rape complaint against Moodbidri Police Inspector P.G. Sandesh, who is currently suspended, following a report from a college principal in Belthangady taluk. She has accused him of sexually assaulting her between the years 2020 and 2023.