Gangolli Police Allegedly Frame Innocent Auto Driver in False Case; High Court Comes to His Rescue
- Rare Case in Gangolli, Says Dr. Ravindranath Shyanubhog
- Foundation Ready to Assist in Filing Defamation Case Against Police
Udupi: The Karnataka High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against 55-year-old Sheena Poojary, an auto-rickshaw driver from Alur, who was allegedly made a scapegoat in a case involving illegal quarrying and the theft of red stones from government land, according to Dr Ravindranath Shyanubhog of the Udupi-based Human Rights Protection Foundation.
Dr. Shyanubhog spoke at a press conference held at his office at Vaikunta Baliga College of Law in Udupi, describing the matter as a rare case in which police allegedly implicated an innocent person.
Sheena Poojary, a resident of Alur village in Kundapura taluk, earns his livelihood as an auto-rickshaw driver. His wife is an Endosulfan victim, and he works hard to support her medical treatment and the education of his two sons, who are pursuing college studies, Dr Shyanubhog said.
According to Dr Shyanubhog, on August 24, 2025, a man known to Sheena Poojary, identified as Uday Shetty, hired his auto-rickshaw to travel to Gangolli. Sheena drove him from his residence to the Gangolli Police Station and waited outside in his auto-rickshaw after Uday Shetty entered the station.
About half an hour later, a police constable allegedly came out and asked Sheena to enter the police station. A police officer then asked him whether he knew Uday Shetty. After Sheena confirmed that he did, the police allegedly asked him to sign a document.
When Sheena questioned what the document was about and explained that he could neither read nor write, the police allegedly told him it was only a formality and that he would face no problems because of it. They also reportedly told him that cooperating with the police was the duty of every citizen. Trusting the police, Sheena signed the document.
The police subsequently took a copy of his Aadhaar card and allegedly assured him there would be no problem, although he might have to appear before a court once. This reportedly caused concern to Sheena.
Court Summons Leaves Auto Driver Shocked
Around two months later, Sheena received a summons from the court. Gangolli police allegedly contacted him on his mobile phone and asked him to come to the police station to collect it. Later, police personnel reportedly came to him, served the notice and obtained his signature.
As Sheena could not read the notice, he asked an acquaintance to read it for him. He was shocked to learn that the police had registered a criminal case against him before the Kundapura court and that he could face imprisonment if he failed to appear before the court and obtain bail.
After the notice was read to him in detail, Sheena learned that the police had named him as the second accused in a case involving alleged illegal quarrying on government land and the theft of red stones. Uday Shetty had been named as the first accused.
Sheena, who reportedly knew little about Uday Shetty apart from the fact that he was from Alur, was shocked to discover that he had been named as an accused despite allegedly having no involvement in the incident.
He immediately went to the Gangolli Police Station and questioned the police about why an auto-rickshaw driver earning his livelihood through honest work had been portrayed as a thief. The police allegedly told him not to worry, describing it as a minor case, and advised him to pay whatever small fine the court might impose.
However, Sheena’s conscience did not allow him to admit to an offence he maintained he had not committed or accept the stigma of being accused of theft. When people told him that refusing to plead guilty could result in the case continuing for years and require repeated appearances before the court, he reportedly became extremely distressed.
Having done nothing wrong apart from cooperating with the police in good faith, Sheena reportedly lost sleep and struggled to find a way out of the case.
Human Rights Protection Foundation Takes Up Legal Battle
Finally, acting on the advice of a law student known to him, Sheena approached the Human Rights Protection Foundation in Udupi. At the time, he reportedly had no documents relating to the case except the court summons he had received.
After two months of continuous efforts, the Foundation obtained certified copies of documents related to the case and decided to initiate legal proceedings to protect Sheena’s dignity and rights.
Through its advocate, N. Vivekananda, the Foundation approached the Karnataka High Court by filing a criminal petition seeking to relieve Sheena of the proceedings pending before the Kundapur court.
When the matter came up before the bench of Justice Nagaprasanna, the court reportedly sought to know the basis for the allegations against Sheena and issued notice to the Gangolli Police Station.
According to Dr Shyanubhog, although the Gangolli police were given four opportunities to respond, they failed to file a reply. Finally, in its order dated August 6, the High Court directed that petitioner Sheena Poojary be removed from the list of accused in the proceedings before the Kundapur court, thereby bringing an end to the criminal proceedings against him.
Foundation Ready to Assist in Defamation Case
Dr Ravindranath Shyanubhog said that, following the Karnataka High Court’s order, the Foundation was prepared to assist Sheena Poojary in initiating defamation proceedings against the Gangolli police if he wished to pursue legal action.
He said the Foundation was ready to bear the expenses and assist in filing a case before the appropriate court against those responsible for allegedly making false allegations against Sheena.
However, he added that Sheena Poojary and his family would have to give their consent before any such legal action could be initiated.
