Sowjanya murder: Case against YouTuber MD Sameer transferred from Bengaluru to Dharwad Bench of HC
Bengaluru: The High Court has transferred the hearing of YouTuber MD Sameer’s petition challenging the case against him for having shared a video clip connected to the Sowjanya rape and murder case from the principal bench in Bengaluru to the Dharwad Bench.
The FIR against Sameer was filed at the Cowl Bazaar Police Station of Ballari in March 2025. The single-judge bench of Justice Mohammad Nawaz heard on Tuesday the petition filed by the YouTuber for a quashing of the case.
The advocate who represented the petitioner asked for the case to be shifted to the Dharwad Bench as the case was filed in Ballari. The advocate also asked the bench to extend the order to stay the FIR and provide interim protection for Sameer till the hearing was transferred to Dharwad.
The public prosecutor objected to the hearing being transferred to another bench, stating that the petitioner would have to file a fresh petition at the Dharwad Bench. The prosecutor also said that an interim solution could not be sought by the petitioner.
Justice Nawaz said that the HC had already stayed the FIR filed against the petitioner and the government had filed a petition for clearance of the interim order. He ordered that the hearing of the case be transferred to Dharwad, clarifying that it was only an issue of jurisdictional limits.
He added that several cases had been transferred similarly earlier too and that the petitioner was not required to file a fresh petition.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
DSP’s red hair earns criticism, Odisha Police asks him to maintain decorum
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Odisha Police has found itself in a spot after some of its personnel, including senior officers, were criticised on social media for sporting coloured and unconventional hairstyles.
The latest incident was reported from Jagatsinghpur district, where a DSP-rank officer was trolled online for his red-coloured hair, putting the police administration in an awkward position, a senior officer said.
The officer, identified as Rashmi Ranjan Das, saw his hairstyle go viral on social media, drawing criticism from several quarters.
Some users termed the look "unprofessional", while others questioned whether such an appearance befitted a uniformed officer, alleging it undermined the authority and seriousness associated with the khaki.
"After finding the DSP being trolled on social media, I have instructed the Jagatsinghpur SP to tell the officer to maintain decorum and keep his hairstyle decent, befitting a man in uniform," Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Satyajit Naik told PTI.
Naik, however, said the police department has not yet issued any circular or order in this regard.
"We have told the officer to maintain decency. Everything cannot go by written orders. From constables to senior officers, everyone in the police service should respect the uniform and give utmost priority to decency," he said.
Another senior police officer said women police personnel across the country, including Odisha, are also seen colouring their hair in shades such as coffee, chocolate, ash, auburn, caramel and golden.
"One cannot issue an order to keep hair black always. There are people who have natural brown hair. This apart, greying is also a natural phenomenon. What can be done in these cases? Therefore, no order can be issued with regard to hair colour," the officer said, adding that it depends on individual police officers.
A woman police officer in the city, who has coloured her hair ash, said no law or rule prohibits such choices.
"We are in the police and perform our duties responsibly. People should not comment on a person’s hairstyle. We welcome criticism if we commit mistakes, but colouring hair is not a crime," she said.
A retired IPS officer said that while the police manual does not explicitly prescribe hairstyles, personnel are expected to maintain the image of a security force.
"Creating a controversy over a non-issue serves no purpose," another serving officer remarked.
