Attempted Murder for a Survey? Inside the Sujata Handi Arrest Scandal

In Hubballi, Karnataka, the line between arrest and assault has blurred into a national scandal. On January 5, 2026, BJP activist Sujata Handi was arrested by the Hubballi police in connection with a local dispute. The arrest, however, turned into a spectacle of horror when videos emerged showing Handi partially unclothed and manhandled by police personnel inside a patrol vehicle. While the police commissioner and the State Women's Commission Chairperson have swiftly claimed she "stripped herself" to resist custody, the BJP has launched a state-wide offensive, terming it an act of barbarism sanctioned by the ruling Congress government.

The Context (How We Got Here)

The incident did not happen in a vacuum. Tensions have been simmering in Hubballi’s Keshwapur area for weeks over the ongoing "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) of electoral rolls. Both BJP and Congress factions have accused each other of deleting voters. The flashpoint came when Handi allegedly clashed with supporters of Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla. What should have been a case of minor assault or public nuisance was escalated by the police into a charge of "Attempt to Murder" (Section 307 IPC)—a non-bailable offense usually reserved for terror suspects or violent criminals.

The Key Players (Who & So What)

• Sujata Handi (The Accused/Victim): A grassroots BJP worker with a history of police cases (9 prior charges), she represents the vulnerable foot soldiers of political wars. Her alleged disrobing—whether forced or a radical act of protest—has made her the face of the opposition's "victimhood" narrative.
• Shashi Kumar (Police Commissioner): The top cop is under fire. By immediately pushing the "self-stripping" theory without releasing body-cam footage or unedited video evidence, he has positioned the police force as a participant in the political narrative rather than a neutral enforcer.
• Nagalakshmi Choudhary (Women's Commission Chairperson): Her visit to the victim within 24 hours ended with a statement supporting the police version. This rapid endorsement raises questions about the independence of statutory bodies in a polarized state.

The BIGSTORY Reframe

While mainstream media focuses on the "Disrobing," the deeper story is the "Weaponization of Section 307." Invoking an "Attempted Murder" charge for a political scuffle over a voter list survey is a gross disproportion of power. It suggests that the state machinery is being used not just to maintain order, but to crush dissent with legal overkill. If a dispute over a survey can lead to a life-imprisonment charge, the "rule of law" in Hubballi has been replaced by the "rule of the ruler."

Furthermore, the "Body as a Battlefield" angle is critical. If the police claim is true—that she stripped herself—it indicates a desperate, radical form of resistance against state power, reminiscent of the 2004 Manipur protests. If false, it reveals a disturbing police tactic: using sexual humiliation as a tool of compliance, and then gaslighting the victim by blaming her for her own indignity.

The Implications (Why This Changes Things)

This incident has handed the BJP a powerful emotional weapon against the Siddaramaiah government ahead of the 2027 elections. It also exposes the fragility of law enforcement in Karnataka's tier-2 cities, where local political rivalries can hijack police protocols. For the Congress government, the "Jungle Raj" tag—if it sticks—could alienate women voters who were crucial to their 2023 victory.

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If the police need 30 officers and an "Attempt to Murder" charge to arrest one woman activist, who is really afraid of whom?

FAQs

Did the Hubballi police strip BJP worker Sujata Handi? The incident is disputed. A viral video shows Sujata Handi partially unclothed in police custody. The BJP alleges police assaulted and disrobed her. However, Hubballi Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar and the State Women's Commission claim she "stripped herself" to resist arrest and prevent police from taking her into custody.

Why was Sujata Handi arrested in Hubballi? Sujata Handi was arrested on January 5, 2026, following a dispute over the "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) of voter lists in the Keshwapur area. She was charged under Section 307 (Attempt to Murder) of the IPC after a complaint by a local resident linked to Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla.

What is the controversy regarding the Section 307 charge in this case? Critics argue that invoking Section 307 ("Attempt to Murder"), a non-bailable offense carrying a sentence of up to life imprisonment, for a political scuffle over a survey is excessive and politically motivated ("vendetta politics") to keep the activist in jail.

Sources

News Coverage

• NDTV – Hubballi cops assault BJP worker, tear her clothes
• Republic World – BJP worker stripped by police; cops say she did it herself
• Moneycontrol – "30 police arrived, grabbed her sari": Sister of BJP worker

Context & Statements

• Public TV – Woman undressed herself, says Women's Commission Chief
• Deccan Herald – BJP accuses Hubballi police of disrobing woman