Police Commissioner Rejects Royal Family Member’s Coordination Charge Over Mysuru Dasara

Bengaluru: Mysuru Police Commissioner Seema Latkar on Wednesday rejected the charge by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, a member of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, that there was a lack of coordination among government departments during Dussehra.

The Forest Department also responded to her allegation.

She had said she had to approach the Deputy Conservator of Forests five days before the event to obtain information, "causing unnecessary stress".

In a statement, the Police Commissioner's office said the district administration, police department, Palace Board and other departments had held continuous preparatory coordination meetings for the past two months. "The Dussehra celebrations were successfully conducted through joint efforts," it said.

On the complaint about the wrestlers, the statement said members of the Jatti community were allowed entry through the Brahmapuri Gate.

Three of the four teams arrived at the scheduled time. The fourth team arrived late and was still allowed in, but it insisted that members without official passes also be admitted.

According to the police, the team delayed proceedings and eventually left on its own.

The statement added that no unauthorised persons or family members of officials were allowed into the area where the golden howdah was mounted on the elephant.

"As a new elephant had been assigned this year, only senior Forest Department officials with the necessary duty passes, the 40-member Cheetah Force, the mahouts and official palace representatives were present at the site," it said.

In keeping with a centuries-old tradition, the Police Commissioner received the golden howdah from the palace after giving an undertaking regarding its security.

After the Jamboo Savari procession concluded, the howdah was returned safely to the palace against an acknowledgement of receipt.

Palace representatives holding duty passes stayed with the howdah from the time it was mounted on the elephant until it was handed back.

In a separate statement, the Forest Department said the elephant Prashantha was chosen to carry the golden howdah in the Vijayadashami Jamboo Savari procession at Mysuru Dussehra 2026 "only after scientific trials, assessment of physical fitness and compliance with safety requirements".

In a letter to the Dussehra Special Officer and the Mysuru Deputy Commissioner, responding to Pramoda Devi's press statement, the Deputy Conservator of Forests of the Mysuru Wildlife Division explained how the elephant was selected.

The DCF said 13 elephants from various camps had arrived in Mysuru for this year's Dussehra and trained regularly within the palace premises.

Five of them (Mahendra, Sugreeva, Dhananjaya, Ekalavya and Prashantha) were made to carry a wooden howdah loaded with sandbags to test their ability to bear the weight. Mahendra became tired and reluctant to proceed, while the other four responded very well to the weight-bearing training conducted from September 25 to October 13.

The government's response followed a statement Pramoda Devi issued on October 25.

She had said that recurring problems involving police personnel, security arrangements and access to the Palace made it difficult to conduct the family's customary ceremonies smoothly. She expressed deep disappointment with how officials of various government departments had conducted Dussehra 2026, saying they "lacked basic coordination".

"It is regrettable to note that lack of effective coordination and communication among the Palace Police, Mysuru District Police, Karnataka State Reserve Police platoons, City Armed Reserve/District Armed Reserve platoons, and police personnel deputed from other districts continues to be evident each year," she said.

"The non-cooperation and lack of coordination between the government departments have caused great inconvenience to us and interfere with our religious rituals," she added, seeking public support for her suggestions and urging the government to consider them.