CRPF seeks Karnataka DGP's intervention to probe 'manhandling, handcuffing' of commando by cops
New Delhi: The CRPF has taken up the "unpleasant" case of alleged manhandling and handcuffing of one of its CoBRA commandos by Karnataka police personnel with the DGP of the southern state and sent a team to follow-up on the matter, officials said on Monday.
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) specialises in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare.
The CRPF has written a letter to Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Praveen Sood, stating that the "unpleasant situation could have been avoided had the state police taken the CRPF hierarchy into confidence before making the arrest" of the jawan on April 23 in Belagavi district.
The CRPF is mulling to file "a counter FIR against the atrocious action of the police" against the jawan, a senior officer of the paramilitary force told PTI.
The official Twitter handle of the Karnataka DGP posted an update in the matter in the evening.
"IGP Belagavi has been asked to enquire into incident involving CRPF constable. Action will be taken against guilty after receipt of report," it said.
The CRPF letter said commando Sachin Savant was "manhandled, ill-treated, paraded to the police station barefooted, kept in chains and handcuffs" by police personnel on COVID-19 lockdown duty in Examba village of the district.
In a video shot from a distance by a local on a mobile phone, it is seen the mufti-wearing commando and two policemen getting into an altercation, and subsequently, throwing blows at each other.
The CoBRA commando was on leave at his home town.
According to the CRPF, the state police informed them that Savant was outside his home for washing his two-wheeler and "was not wearing a mask", and the police personnel on duty asked him why he was not wearing a face mask.
The police report said the commando "started the altercation" with the beat constable and another policeman accompanying him, and "assaulted" them.
CRPF officials countered the version, saying the jawan informed the policemen that he was not wearing the mask as he was just outside his home.
The incident has led to resentment among officials of the paramilitary force, who have demanded a fair probe in the case and sought the intervention of the CRPF brass.
"We have taken up the case with the police chief of Karnataka. His (Savant) bail plea will be taken up by a court on Tuesday and the CRPF too shall be in court through its local officers. Thereafter, the investigation shall be followed up to take it to a logical conclusion," CRPF spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Moses Dhinakaran said.
The CRPF has stated in the letter to the DGP that after a scrutiny of the video, "it is apparent that the conduct of the police personnel was not citizen-centric".
The letter, written by a special director general-rank officer at the behest of CRPF chief A P Maheshwari, requested the DGP to get the matter inquired and "provide justice to the jawan", keeping in mind the gravity of the incident and its "impact on the relationship between the two forces".
It said the CRPF is a force "with high standards of discipline and it has an institutional mechanism for taking care of such situations".
The commando told the police that he was also a cop like them and aware of his responsibilities. He then agreed to go back to his house and ended the argument. But then, the police personnel pushed him and rained "lathi" blows on him, leading to the altercation between the two sides, CRPF officials alleged.
The police report said the commando was arrested under sections of the IPC and Epidemic Diseases Act and is in judicial custody at the local Sadalga police station.
A photograph that has gone viral on social media and which is also available with CRPF authorities, shows a handcuffed Savant squatting in a place that is claimed to be the local police station.
"Is this the way to treat a commando of a uniformed force? The jawan was treated like a dreaded criminal by putting handcuff and chain, which are in any case disallowed to be put on a person," a senior CRPF official said.
The commando is posted with the 207th battalion of the CoBRA. His unit is presently deployed on anti-Naxal operations in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
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.
Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquires RCB for USD 1.78 billion
Bengaluru (PTI): A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) on Tuesday acquired 100 percent equity stake in IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a whopping USD 1.78 billion (approximately Rs 16,706 crore) from its current owner the United Spirits Limited.
Other parties involved in the group are -- Blackstone’s perpetual private equity strategy, BXPE, a firm of which Viral Patel is the CEO, Bolt Ventures, owned by American investor David Blitzer, and media conglomerate Times of India.
“United Spirits Limited, pursuant to the meeting of its Board of Directors, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the sale of the 100 percent equity stake held in its wholly owned subsidiary Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL) to a consortium,” the USL said in a statement.
“The consortium comprises Aditya Birla Group (ABG), The Times of India Group (Times), Bolt Ventures (Bolt), and Blackstone’s perpetual private equity strategy, BXPE (Blackstone) for a total consideration of INR 166.6 bn in an all cash transaction,” the statement added.
The transaction includes RCB's men’s and women’s (WPL) teams.
“RCSPL owns and operates Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchises that participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL).
“Upon completion of this transaction, the consortium will, through its ownership of RCSPL, acquire the rights to own and operate the IPL and WPL franchise,” said the USL.
The announcement also concluded the strategic review of RCSPL that was initiated by USL on November 5, 2025.
The United Spirits Limited is a subsidiary of UK-Diageo, and they were keen to move away from RCB as the team was not central to their business plans.
Commenting on the transaction, Praveen Someshwar, MD & CEO, USL, said: “This transaction marks an important milestone for USL as we sharpen focus on our core beverage alcohol business to unlock its true potential. RCB has grown into the most prominent and commercially successful franchise in the IPL and WPL.
“We are excited for the future of RCB under the stewardship of the new owner. As Sports enters a new phase of growth in India & globally, we believe this is in the best interest of the franchise and our stakeholders.”
Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said, “Over the past 2 decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket creating enormous value for India.
“RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport.”
As per the sale agreement, Aryaman Vikram Birla, ABG’s director, will be the chairman of RCB while Satyan Gajwani of Times of India will be his deputy.
Aryaman Birla, said: “It is a privilege to come together in this partnership to shape the next phase of growth for RCB. This partnership brings together a deep understanding of sports, media and consumer businesses.
“Together, we will continue to Play Bold -- on the pitch, in the community, and for the fans who make RCB what it is.”
Gajwani, Chairman, Times Internet Limited, said: “RCB is the reigning champion and the most popular brand in the IPL. We will build RCB into a global sporting institution, while remaining rooted in Bengaluru and Karnataka and its incredible fanbase.”
Blitzer hoped to build on RCB’s recent success.
“RCB has a world-class fanbase, and the IPL is one of the great growth stories in global sport. Having invested in clubs and leagues around the world, I believe the opportunity at RCB stands out.
We look forward to working alongside our partners and the BCCI to build on the franchise’s championship success,” he said.
Patel praised the RCB as one of the strongest sporting brands in the world.
“We are excited to invest in RCB, building on Blackstone’s long-standing commitment to India. RCB stands out as one of the most popular sports franchises in the world with a powerful brand, a loyal fan base, and multiple avenues for growth,” he added.
However, formalities such as ratification from the BCCI, IPL Governing Council, its WPL counterpart and the Competition Commission of India are still pending.
Earlier, IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals was acquired by US-based Kal Somani-led consortium for USD 1.63 billion (approx Rs 15,290 crore),
The Somani-led consortium includes Rob Walton from the Walmart family and Hamp family (Ford motor company).
Somani is an Arizona-based tech entrepreneur who has founded IntraEdge (technology services and solutions), Truyo.Ai (data privacy rights and AI governance) and Academian (edtech services).
The other contenders to buy the team, which won the inaugural trophy in 2008, were the Times Internet-led consortium, the Aditya Birla Group and the Mittal family led by ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal.
