Udupi- Chaitra Kundapur, a prominent right-wing Hindutva activist, found herself in police custody on Wednesday in Udupi. The arrest came following a complaint filed by Govind Babu Poojary, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur originally from Byndoor. Poojary alleged that Chaitra had defrauded him of approximately Rs 5 crore, promising to secure a BJP ticket for him in the upcoming 2023 state assembly elections, representing the Byndoor constituency.

According to Poojary’s complaint, the substantial sum was transferred to Chaitra Kundapura in three installments. She purportedly introduced Poojary to various individuals as part of the arrangement.

Chaitra Kundapura had asserted close ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership.

Govinda Babu Poojary, an aspiring BJP ticket holder from Byndoor, is a native of the area and operates hospitality and catering businesses in Bengaluru. His decision to file a complaint against Chaitra came when he grew suspicious about the fate of his substantial financial investment.

The complaint names eight additional individuals as accomplices, leading to a formal case being registered in relation to the incident.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that Chaitra was apprehended by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) officers in Udupi, specifically in the car parking area of the Sri Krishna Mutt, on Tuesday night. A video of this apprehension circulated on various social media platforms.

Subsequently, Chaitra Kundapura was transported to a state facility in Nittur on Tuesday night, and she was subsequently transferred to Bengaluru on Wednesday morning.

Chaitra Kundapura has garnered recognition among Hindutva activists, though her involvement in several cases involving inflammatory speeches has led to multiple FIRs being filed against her in various locations.

Udupi: A specialized team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been dispatched to Udupi district in Karnataka to delve into the unsettling case involving a video recorded in a college washroom. The transition of the case from the district police to the CID was officially executed by the state government on Monday.

The accomplished CID squad, headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anjumala Nayak, made a pivotal visit to the Udupi district superintendent of police’s office. Here, they meticulously gathered pertinent details concerning the case, as confirmed by local law enforcement.

During their visit, the CID team engaged in comprehensive consultations with Superintendent of Police (SP) Hakay Akshay Machhindra and Deputy SP Belliappa, who had been leading the preliminary investigation. These discussions marked a significant step in transferring the inquiry’s stewardship from the district police to the CID.

The team is poised to amass evidence from multiple sources, including the victim, the students implicated in the incident, and representatives from the college management. This multi-faceted approach aims to uncover a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

The incident in question, transpiring on July 19, swiftly took on political dimensions, sparking a sequence of impassioned protests within the town. These rallies underscored the public’s call for punitive actions against the trio of students alleged to have filmed a fellow student within the college washroom. The incident’s portrayal was also influenced by divisive factors, as the individuals involved belonged to distinct religious affiliations.

The controversy gained further momentum as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) orchestrated widespread protests, advocating for the apprehension of the three students and advocating for a thorough inquiry by a dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT).

In the midst of these developments, the CID team’s intervention marks a notable phase in the ongoing investigation, as they strive to shed light on the intricate details of the case that has captivated the community.

Udupi: The BJP, led by local MLA Yashpal Suvarna, staged a protest on Friday demanding an open and fair investigation by a central agency into the video shooting incident in Udupi College.

On this occasion, MLA Yashpal Suvarna, who spoke to reporters, said that we are protesting for justice. We want an open and fair investigation by the central agency. He complained that the government is not taking appropriate action in this regard.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr. MC Sudhakar, who has commented on the Udupi incident, has promised to take appropriate action against the culprits. What happened in Udupi is not acceptable, students should not cross certain limits. We have taken this matter seriously. An investigation is already underway. He said that the guilty will not be left alone. 

Soon after the incident of three girls of Udupi’s semi-medical college filming fellow students in the washroom was reported, the police have registered two separate FIRs in the matter. According to the police, an FIR has been registered against the three girls and the college management for allegedly recording the video of the student and deleting the video.

The second case is related to uploaded edited video on YouTube channels. Police alleged that the video was posted on a Twitter handle and used to spread false news and offensive and communal hatred on social media. A case has been registered at the Malpe police station on the charge of trying to disturb harmony and the police said that an investigation will be conducted.

The video incident led to a war of words between the Congress government in Karnataka and the main opposition BJP. The BJP alleged that the Siddaramaiah government did not take timely action in this matter.