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It was in 2013 that Sudarshan Aski, a constable, walked into Shreya's* clinic in Hosakerehalli. He asked the 39-year-old for her mobile number to make appointments for the follow up as recommended. Shreya obliged out of consideration for the man's busy schedule, not knowing that he would go on to abuse his power and make her life hell for two years.
Sudarshan, a 32-year-old police constable, has now been suspended for allegedly stalking, harassing and intimating Shreya, even threatening to kill her and her husband. Furthermore, the allwged offender has procured anticipatory bail and is out and about, much to Shreya's terror.
Every night since the day he got her number, Sudarshan allegedly called Shreya, used abusive language and sexually harassed her over the phone. Even when she stopped answering his calls, he would allegedly send her lewd and objectionable messages. Sudarshan had apparently scared her, saying he would get away with intimidating and harassing her as he was a police officer.
Unable to bear the harassment, Shreya told her husband about it, shut her clinic in Hosakerehalli and moved to another locality in 2015. The couple moved to a house near Jnanabharati. She was relieved when Sudarshan’s calls and messages stopped.
This, however, was not the end of her ordeal.
A few months ago, Sudarshan allegedly tracked her down and began stalking her again. He would follow her from her home to her workplace and also stalk her when she went out with her husband.
The woman and her husband ultimately approached the Jnanabharati Police in the first week of October this year. However, instead of registering an FIR, the police summoned Sudarshan and let him go with only a warning.
Emboldened, Sudarshan continued harassing and stalking Shreya. He went a step ahead, allegedly threatened to get her shot, and bragged about getting away with killing her and her husband because he had "influence".
“He did not stop stalking her. He followed her to a hospital in Sahakarnagar even after he had been warned," an investigating officer told TNM. When asked why a complaint was not registered against Sudarshan the first time around, the official simply said that Sudarshan was warned that a case would be registered against him if he continued with his harassment, and that he seemed to understand.
"The woman and her husband came back and complained again and an FIR was registered on October 16. Since he was attached with the Giriniagar Police Station, we informed the officers of the station and also the concerned DCP of west division. Finally, the case was brought to the notice of the jurisdictional DCP of Jnanabharati area – DCP South Annamalai," the investigating officer added.
Speaking to TNM, DCP South Annamalai said that Sudarshan has been suspended pending enquiry and the police are still investigating the case.
When Sudarshan learnt of his impending arrest, he obtained anticipatory bail. An FIR has been filed for stalking, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation in the Jnanabharati Police Station.
*Name changed