Karnataka DSP-rank officer held for seeking sexual favours gets bail in one case, to stay in jail

Granting bail to the accused, the court Thursday ruled, “In the case on hand, after perusing all the materials… of the opinion that though investigation of the matter is not completed, the accused is entitled to regular bail as he has already been subjected to interrogation.”

“No distinction can be made between the general public and Government officials. Merely because he is a Government official does not mean that he is not entitled to bail. His situation is also to be considered par with the general public. Under the circumstances, by presuming the incident it is not possible to say that he is not entitled to bail,” it added.

In the course of the bail hearing, the district court was informed by the prosecution that investigations were still underway and the police had found two boxes of Penegra tablets, which are administered to treat erectile dysfunction, and names and numbers of some women with the DSP.

“In the case on hand, the materials produced at present do not show that there was intercourse by the accused with the victim. Hence the case of the prosecution that the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 68 of the (BNS) Act has to be proved during trial and at present the same cannot be presumed as there are no strong materials against the petitioner,” the district court ruled in the bail order.

“Video produced before the Court is not sufficient. Whether persons found in the video are the victim and accused is to be proved during trial,” the court stated.

The Madhugiri police have booked Ramachandrappa under Section 68 (sexual intercourse by a person in authority), Section 75 (sexual harassment), and Section 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Arrested officer to remain in police custody

The police officer will remain in police custody on account of a second case of sexual harassment that was filed against him by another woman on January 8. The second case of sexual harassment was registered on the basis of a complaint by a woman who alleged that the officer touched her inappropriately in August 2024 after promising to settle a dispute where she was cheated of Rs 10 lakh.

The Madhugiri police have registered a case under Sections 75 and 79 of the BNS in the second case. The police have also booked the officer under the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015, on account of the victim belonging to a tribal community.

The victim has provided a statement before a magistrate about the alleged harassment by the accused.