Perdoor Pradeep Poojary Suicide Case: Udupi SP Hariram Shankar Issues Clarification
Udupi: Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar on Monday issued a detailed clarification regarding the suicide of Pradeep Poojary and the series of incidents and related cases that have triggered widespread discussion and controversy across the district. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those circulating photographs of the rape survivor on social media.
Pradeep Poojary
The SP said that several versions of the case were being circulated on social media. He said he was placing the facts established so far through the police investigation, along with the available evidence, in the public domain.
According to the SP, an FIR was registered on November 10, 2025, after Pradeep Poojary allegedly intercepted the survivor, who was travelling on a scooter, in his car and threatened her, demanding that she either marry him or face death. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the case.
After securing bail, he allegedly confronted the survivor again on the morning of November 29, 2025, while she was on her way to work at a school. He allegedly dragged her into a forested area near Doddapade, threatened to crush her head with a stone if she refused to marry him, and sexually assaulted her. A separate case was registered in this regard.
The SP said the sexual assault was established not merely based on the survivor’s statement but also through scientific evidence gathered by doctors and experts. A charge sheet was subsequently filed in the case.
Hariram Shankar
Following the alleged assault, the survivor was hospitalised for three days. Medical evidence documenting her injuries and the sexual assault was also available, and the charge sheet was filed based on these findings, Hariram Shankar said.
The SP said that, in the third incident, on the night of October 28, 2026, Pradeep Poojary allegedly brought chilli powder, clothes and other materials before attacking the survivor as she came out after taking a bath. He allegedly intended to kill her. When the survivor’s mother intervened to protect her daughter, he allegedly threw chilli powder at her as well.
When local residents rushed to the spot after noticing the incident, Pradeep Poojary allegedly showed them private photographs taken during his earlier relationship with the survivor. The survivor had also made an audio recording in which he could allegedly be heard clearly stating that he had come there to kill her.
The SP said various versions of the incident were being circulated, including claims that Pradeep Poojary had been brought to the spot and assaulted or deliberately trapped. However, the investigation conducted so far had not substantiated these claims.
Video and audio recordings, along with chilli powder and clothes allegedly brought by Pradeep Poojary and used in the attack, were recovered from the scene, he said. The hospitalisation of the survivor and her mother also corroborated that an attack had taken place.
During the incident, the survivor’s mother called relatives for help. Around seven to eight people reportedly arrived at the spot and assaulted Pradeep Poojary. The police reached the scene after the assault and shifted him to the hospital, the SP said.
Pradeep Poojary had submitted a written complaint at the hospital. However, instead of registering an FIR, the police had registered a non-cognisable (NC) case.
The SP said action had been initiated against the police sub-inspector for failing to register an FIR. The officer had been relieved of his duties and directed to report to the Inspector General of Police, Western Range. An inquiry was underway, and strict action would follow if any dereliction of duty was established.
He said several organisations and associations had submitted complaints against the sub-inspector. The officer would not be allowed to continue at Hiriyadka Police Station, and the department had initiated the strictest action possible at this stage.
Following the incident, another case was registered on charges of abetment to suicide, and an investigation was underway.
The case was transferred from Hiriyadka Police Station to Manipal Police Station and is being investigated under the leadership of Inspector Mahesh Prasad.
The SP said police officers were conducting the investigation sincerely. Although the process might take time, all accused would be investigated and arrested. Strict action would also be taken against anyone taking the law into their hands, he added.
Hariram Shankar also expressed concern over the circulation of the survivor’s photographs and private pictures over the past two days, allegedly with the intention of damaging her reputation.
He warned that publishing or circulating photographs that could reveal the identity of a sexually assaulted survivor is illegal. The police had already identified around 150 social media accounts allegedly involved in sharing the survivor’s photographs or spreading misinformation without verifying the facts, and legal action would be taken against all those found responsible, the SP said.