Investigation into sexual harassment at a women’s shelter in Kalaburagi

The victim sought refuge in a shelter following a family dispute. | Image to illustrate | Photo credit: coehm

The Karnataka Ahinda Jana Sangha has demanded the immediate arrest of Ananthraj Choul, the administrator of a government-funded shelter for distressed women, and the cancellation of the shelter’s license following allegations of sexual harassment and physical assault on a 29-year-old inmate.

Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Saturday (October 3), Jayashree Kattimani, state secretary of the sangha, said a case had been registered at the women’s police station against Mr Choul over the incident at the Shakti Sadana women’s shelter on Syed Chincholi Road.

Ms. Kattimani urged the authorities to take swift action against Mr. Choul, who manages both Shakti Sadana, funded by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, and the Mahadevi Thai Nursing Home, which operates on the same campus. She claimed that Mr Choul routinely uses abusive language towards inmates and staff at the facility and pointed out the sheer irony that those tasked with running the center turned a blind eye and failed to speak out against his behaviour.

According to Ms. Kattimani, the victim sought refuge at the shelter following a family dispute. On September 17, Mr. Choul allegedly called an inmate to his room at the nursing home, subjected her to sexual harassment and physical assault, and threatened to kill her if she resisted his demands. She added that although the victim reported the ordeal to the counselor and superintendent at the center, no action was taken.

Ms. Kattimani detailed that when a female security staff member met with Mr. Choul about the matter on September 26, he verbally abused both the victim and the staff before expelling them from the shelter home that night. The Sangha eventually stepped in to provide temporary shelter for the displaced women.

Expressing deep concern over the inaction of officials of the Women and Child Development Ministry despite being informed of the development, Ms. Kattimani warned that unless the authorities revoked the institution’s license within a week and initiate strict action against Mr. Choul, the sangha along with Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and other organizations would launch a protest outside the deputy commissioner’s office.

Published – 03 Oct 2026 20:07 IST