- By Yashashvi Tak
- Sun, 11 Jan 2026 04:24 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Two men have been arrested in Karnataka’s Hubballi for allegedly kidnapping a 35-year-old woman, sexually assaulting her and recording the crime, while a third accused has been held for sharing the explicit footage on WhatsApp, police said.
According to NDTV, the incident took place late Friday night between 11.30 pm and midnight near Ambedkar Ground. According to investigators, the woman was stopped by two men travelling in an autorickshaw and was forcibly taken inside the vehicle. During the ride, the accused allegedly molested her, forced her to consume alcohol and captured photos and videos of the assault before leaving her near the same location.
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The case surfaced after members of the public came across the recordings and submitted them to the police. At the time, authorities were unaware of the victim’s identity or location and were preparing to register a suo motu case. A subsequent search led to the woman being traced within Hubballi. Police found that she had been moving across different parts of the city for about six weeks, often relying on food and shelter near Siddharoodha Math and nearby temples.
Once the victim was located, her statement was recorded and a formal complaint was filed, strengthening the prosecution. According to NDTV, the two main accused have been identified as Shivanand and Ganesh, while the man who circulated the visuals has been named Pradeep. All three are autorickshaw drivers and daily-wage workers.
They have been booked under multiple sections related to abduction, sexual assault and offences under the Information Technology Act. Police said the woman did not show any major external injuries, but she was admitted to hospital for a comprehensive medical examination in accordance with legal procedure.