Hyderabad Police on Tuesday, 28 July took trainee Indian Police Service (IPS) officer M. Uday Krishna Reddy into custody in connection with allegations of sexually harassing a woman batchmate during training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA). The accused was brought to Attapur Police Station, where the original complaint was registered on 19 July.

Why Tracing Him Proved Difficult

Investigators had formed four teams to locate Reddy after he could not be found at either of the two addresses he had provided during the investigation, and his mobile phone was found switched off. Reddy, however, denied being on the run, stating he had travelled to his native village of Ullapalem in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district to attend to his ailing grandmother. Earlier on Tuesday, he had told a media channel that he was headed to Hyderabad and would cooperate with investigators.

What the Complainant Alleged

A 30-year-old woman trainee officer alleged that Reddy harassed her between 23 June and 10 July while both were undergoing training at the academy. She accused him of sending abusive messages, criminal intimidation, recording her private video and forwarding it to her husband, forcibly taking her mobile phone to his room, compelling her to reveal its password, and blackmailing her into disclosing personal messages.

Attapur Police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — including Section 74 (criminal force against a woman), Section 75 (sexual harassment), Section 77 (voyeurism), Section 78 (stalking), Section 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman), Section 127(2) (wrongful confinement), Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation) — along with Section 66E (violation of privacy) and Section 67A (transmission of sexually explicit material) of the IT Act.

Reddy's Counter-Claims and the Suicide Attempt

Reddy has consistently denied the allegations, asserting they are false and expressing confidence he will prove his innocence. He had also approached the High Court last week, seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR), arguing it was filed on fabricated grounds.

On 21 July, Reddy allegedly attempted suicide at a relative's residence in Hyderabad and was admitted to a private hospital. Body samples sent for examination tested negative for poison and drugs, reportedly indicating only an overdose of alcohol; he is suspected to have lost consciousness due to excessive alcohol consumption.

In a purported handwritten note found at the scene, Reddy claimed he and the complainant had been in a consensual relationship since June 2025, continuing even after her marriage. He named four individuals, including the woman and her husband, as responsible for his decision. He also claimed to possess photographs and videos as evidence of a consensual relationship. These claims have not been independently verified.

What Happens Next

With Reddy now in custody at Attapur Police Station, investigators are expected to formally question him. His High Court petition seeking to quash the FIR remains pending. The case has drawn significant attention given that both the accused and the complainant are trainee IPS officers at one of India's premier police training institutions, raising questions about the adequacy of internal grievance mechanisms at the academy.