Hubballi: Police Arrest Three in Rape and Video Circulation Case

Hubballi: Police have arrested three persons in connection with the rape of a woman, with two accused held for allegedly taking her and committing the offence, and another arrested for circulating the video and photographs on social media.

Addressing the media, City Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar said the incident occurred on January 9, when two men allegedly took a 35-year-old woman in an autorickshaw from the Ambedkar Ground area, offered her alcohol and sexually assaulted her. The act was allegedly recorded, and the video and photographs were later circulated online.

The Commissioner said the woman had been living in Hubballi for the past one-and-a-half months in a destitute condition without proper shelter.

Police swung into action after the video and photographs surfaced on social media. The Police Commissioner directed officials to register a suo motu case and trace the victim. After she was located, her statement was recorded, following which a case was registered under rape provisions and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.

The accused have been identified as Shivanand and Ganesh, who allegedly took the woman and committed the assault, and Pradeep, who is accused of circulating the video and photographs.

The Police Commissioner said some members of the accused persons’ community, angered by the incident and concerned about its impact on the community’s reputation, allegedly thrashed Shivanand and Ganesh and tonsured their heads. A separate complaint has been filed by Shivanand in this connection, and the matter is under investigation.

“We have arrested the two main accused- Shivanand and Ganesh. Pradeep has been arrested for circulating the photo and video. The victim has been shifted to a hospital for medical examination. All three accused have been arrested and will be produced before the court,” the Commissioner added.