Udupi: Udupi SP Hariram Shankar Monday issued a clarification amid a social media trial, following the alleged suicide of a man in the toilet of the govt district hospital in Ajjarkad Friday. Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide, with Manipal inspector Mahesh Prasad leading the investigation. The SP outlined a series of incidents involving the deceased, Pradeep Poojary, and a woman, which had led to multiple criminal cases. An FIR was registered against Poojary on Nov 10, 2025, following the woman’s complaint that he waylaid her while she was riding a scooter and threatened to kill her if she refused to enter into a relationship with him. He was subsequently arrested. After securing bail, Poojary allegedly accosted the woman yet again while she was travelling to the school where she worked. He allegedly took her to an isolated spot, threatened to crush her head with a stone if she refused to marry him, and sexually assaulted her. The woman was hospitalised for three days following the incident. According to the SP, her allegations were corroborated by scientific evidence and medical opinions, besides her statement. Police subsequently filed a chargesheet in the case. In the last week of Oct, Poojary allegedly attacked the woman again, throwing chilli powder and using other objects in an alleged attempt to murder her. When her mother intervened, he threw chilli powder at her too. Their cries attracted local residents, to whom Poojary showed photographs and videos relating to his relationship with the woman. Police also obtained an audio recording from the scene in which Poojary allegedly says he had met the woman with the intention of killing her, the SP said. The woman’s mother later summoned relatives, around eight of whom allegedly assaulted Poojary. Police shifted him to hospital, following which he lodged a complaint. The SP said a sub-inspector had been suspended pending an inquiry for allegedly failing to register an FIR over the Oct incident. The additional SP is conducting the inquiry, and further action will follow based on the findings. Expressing concern over the online targeting of the woman, Shankar said circulating her private photographs was illegal and deeply distressing. Police have identified around 150 social media profiles allegedly involved in sharing the photographs or targeting her online. Legal action is being initiated against those responsible.
About The Author
