The decision to name Yashaswini Mahesh (37), alias Muniyamma, a history-sheeter in Basavanagudi police station, as the president of Sri Rama Sene's State women's unit has raised several eyebrows.
Yashaswini, known for her love for luxury cars and superbikes, has been booked for assault and is facing charges of extortion, robbery and chain snatching. The police in Basavanagudi has also previously said that people afraid to come forward and register cases against her.
“Yashaswini requested us to give her a chance to work for the organisation and we agreed. Don't we see many politicians and social activists who face criminal charges serve society in different capacities?” Pramod Muthalik, founder of the Sri Rama Sene told Times of India, attempting to justify the decision.
A video of Pramod Muthalik appearing to induct her as the organisation's state women's president has gone viral. Questions have also been raised about Yashaswini's past and why she has been chosen for a position of power.
“Every single person who has borrowed money from her dreads not repaying it. The kind of language she uses and her way of dealing with recovery scares them. She has assaulted at least 25 women in several areas, as her business was widespread,” said a police officer, speaking to The New Indian Express.
Several people, some of whom were allegedly threatened of acid-attacks by Yashaswini if they didn’t repay their debt, also said that the decision to appoint her as state women's president of the Sri Rama Sene was shocking.
Yashaswini stays with her husband, who also has a history sheet against him in the JP Nagar Police Station in Subramanyapura. The duo allegedly began their criminal activities in 2012. Yashaswini has over ten cases registered against her in JP Nagar Police station limits including a case of chain snatching, robbery and extortion filed in 2012.