Hubbali, Karnataka, Jan 08, 2026 – The Karnataka police have refuted allegations of misconduct following the arrest of a woman associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Hubbali on January 5, after a video showing her in a partially unclothed state inside a police vehicle circulated widely on social media.

The incident has sparked a political debate, with the BJP accusing the Congress-led state government of targeting opposition workers, while police insist the claims are misleading and politically motivated.

Police Version of Events

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar stated that the arrest arose from multiple complaints related to clashes during voter family mapping in Chalukya Nagar, where government officials and police personnel were allegedly attacked. Three FIRs were filed in connection with these incidents, with the woman identified as a key accused in one of the cases.

Shashikumar explained that the police had anticipated resistance and deployed eight to ten women officers during the arrest. “Despite this, when she was taken into the police vehicle, she undressed herself. Our women officers and staff, with the help of local people, arranged separate clothing for her,” he said.

He emphasized that officers repeatedly asked her to cover herself, asserting, “The accusation against the police is absolutely false and made with bad intentions. I have verified the sequence of events.” The commissioner also noted that a deputy commissioner of police has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry covering events from January 1 to January 5.

Further details from police sources revealed that the woman allegedly assaulted four women constables, biting two of them on the abdomen and causing serious injuries. Several male personnel were also injured, though they did not file complaints. Shashikumar said the woman had nine prior cases pending and was remanded to judicial custody.

Chief Minister Supports Police Account

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking to reporters in Haveri, backed the police’s version. “When police officers went to arrest her, she bit many officers. It’s very bad. There was an FIR against her. When police personnel went to arrest her, she beat them and bit them,” he said, stressing the law-and-order angle of the arrest.

BJP Accusations of Political Targeting

The BJP, however, accused the Congress government of using police power to target opposition workers. BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakai claimed that the woman was assisting a booth-level officer during voter mapping when Congress leaders filed a complaint. He alleged, “The police behaved inhumanely while detaining her,” demanding the suspension of officers involved.

Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka, R. Ashoka, described the incident as politically motivated. He wrote on X, “The inhuman incident where Hubballi Keshwapur police stripped and beat a BJP woman worker in response to a complaint filed by a Congress municipal member is another example of hate politics by the Congress government.”He added that attacks on opposition workers were increasingly routine and accused the state government of imposing an “undeclared emergency.”

Karnataka State Commission for Women Comments

The Karnataka State Commission for Women adopted a measured stance. Chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudharyconfirmed that police had arranged clothing for the woman and that she had multiple pending cases.

“There is a complaint against the woman, and the police went to arrest her. When she was taken into the police vehicle, she stripped herself,” Choudhary said. She added that the video was allegedly recorded by the woman’s brother and that only women police officers were present at the time. The commission chairperson also stated that she had spoken to the Hubballi Deputy Commissioner of Police and would seek a detailed report on the incident.

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The Hubbali episode highlights the intersection of law enforcement, political rivalry, and social media scrutiny, and it remains under investigation as both police and political parties defend their respective narratives.