Udupi: A case has been registered against BJP leader and president of the management committee of Rattadi Shriratteshwara Temple, Naveen Chandra Shetty Rattadi, on charges of sexually harassing a woman representative of the Dharmasthala Self-Help Group. The complaint was lodged at Amasebailu Police Station.

According to the complaint, the 29-year-old woman, a service representative from Rattadi village, had called Shetty on September 2 regarding the invitation for a preparatory meeting of the upcoming Dharmasthala Dharma Rakshana Yatra scheduled for September 5. Shetty allegedly asked her to come to his residence around noon.

When the woman visited his house in Manimakki, Shetty was seated in a chair. After she handed over the invitation, Shetty allegedly touched her hand while receiving it, causing her discomfort. As she prepared to leave, Shetty is said to have forced her to sit beside him, pulled her close, and kissed her on the cheek. The complaint further states that when she tried to leave in shock, Shetty followed her and asked her to return.

CPM demands immediate arrest

The Udupi district committee of the CPM strongly condemned the incident, stating that a BJP leader associated with the Dharmasthala project had brought disgrace while pretending to be involved in the cause of religious protection.

The party alleged that Kundapura MLA Kiran Kumar Kodgi was attempting to shield Shetty and pressurize authorities to close the case, which they described as unacceptable. CPM district secretary Suresh Kallagar said that since the survivor herself has lodged the complaint, police must immediately trace and arrest the accused to ensure justice.

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New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has recovered 1,850 stolen and lost mobile phones worth around Rs 4 crore in past 40 days under "Mission Reconnect", an initiative aimed at returning phones to their rightful owners in outernorth Delhi, an official said on Saturday.

The recovered phones were traced from different parts of the country, including remote areas, through technical surveillance and sustained field operations, police said, adding that the devices were handed over to their owners during a programme at the Sports Ground, New Police Lines, Kingsway Camp.

The initiative focused on a victim-centric approach and aimed at strengthening public trust through proactive policing and coordinated efforts across states, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outernorth) Hareshwar Swami said.

As part of the programme, teams performed 'nukkad nataks' and screened awareness videos on cybercrime, drug abuse prevention, and senior citizen safety, sensitising the public about digital frauds and safety measures, officials said.

The initiative combines technology, investigation and community participation to ensure recovery of lost property and reconnect citizens with their valuables, they added.