Devaraja Police Station Inspector Nagesh has been accused of chaining and torturing a youth, who was allegedly involved in a theft at a shopping mall. Relatives of the youth have alleged that the youth was tortured for four days.

The youth, who was allegedly tortured, has been identified as 26-year-old Girish, a resident of Kumbarakoppalu. He is an employee of Garuda Mall near K.R. Circle in city and was picked up by Devaraja Police on Saturday for allegedly stealing a woman’s purse. The arrest was made following a complaint by  the woman.

Following the complaint by the woman that some employees of the mall were involved in the theft, Inspector Nagesh, on suspicion, picked up Girish for enquiry and brought him to the Devaraja Police Station. Girish’s relatives alleged that Inspector Nagesh chained Girish and assaulted him for four days.

They also claimed that Girish was given electric shock and was released only after the news broke in the electronic media yesterday. They said that Girish had observed the purse that was left behind by the woman and when two other women had approached him and claimed that the purse was theirs, he handed over the purse to them who took it and left the mall. The relatives alleged that no case was booked against Girish but he was tortured which was against law.  

Speaking to reporters, City Police Commissioner Dr. A. Subrahmanyeswara Rao said that he would be examining the case before reacting. “I will personally probe the issue and only then I will react,” he said.

“CHAINING INEVITABLE”

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Inspector Nagesh said that after a woman filed the complaint, the Police checked the CCTV visuals which had the recording of Girish taking the purse after he saw the woman leaving it behind.

“During enquiry, he told us that he gave the purse to two other women who claimed that the purse was theirs. But the CCTV footages do not corroborate Girish’s claims,” he said.

When asked about the youth being chained, Inspector Nagesh said that it was a “normal procedure” as Devaraja Police Station does not have a lock up. “It is inevitable to chain any accused as we do not have a lock-up here. I have informed the City Police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Police about this,” he said.