'Darling, why are you not speaking to me?': Cop's 'audio clips, messages' with Bengaluru's 1st female rowdy-sheeter triggers row

“What are you doing, daalu (darling)? Why are you not speaking to me?”

BENGALURU: A Bengaluru police inspector has come under scrutiny after audio clips and messages surfaced, allegedly showing him attempting to pursue a relationship with a woman known in police records as the city’s first female rowdy-sheeter.

The incident has sparked questions around conduct within the force and the use of authority in personal interactions.

Audio clips trigger controversy

The controversy centres on a series of audio recordings purportedly featuring Konanakunte police inspector Papanna speaking to Yashaswini Gowda, often referred to in police circles as the “Lady Don”.

In one clip, a man—allegedly the officer—is heard using affectionate language, asking the woman why she is not speaking to him and urging her to stop addressing him formally as “Sir”.

Instead, he suggests she call him by a nickname.

The tone of the conversation is described as personal and emotional, with the speaker also reportedly expressing romantic interest.

From Sir With 'Love': Wooing Backfires

• Audio clips emerge of Konanakunte inspector Papanna allegedly trying to woo rowdy sheeter Yashaswini Gowda
• Gowda claims he harassed her with ‘filthy’ messages after she turned down his romantic overtures and that he has been suspended twice earlier on similar charges
• She claims he threatened to harm her kids when she tried to lodge a complaint at DCP (South) office
• Bengaluru CP says there will be an enquiry although a complaint hasn’t been filed
• People close to Papanna claim he is innocent and that these messages were more than 8 eight years old

Allegations of harassment

Yashaswini Gowda has alleged that the inspector sent her “filthy” messages and continued to contact her even after she rejected his advances.

She further claimed that when she recently attempted to file a complaint at the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) office, she was threatened.

“I was warned that my children would be harmed if I went ahead,” she told reporters.

She also questioned what action would be taken, alleging the officer had previously been suspended twice over similar accusations.

Officer denies allegations

Sources close to the inspector have rejected the allegations, claiming that the audio recordings may not be genuine. They suggested the officer may have been “trapped” and said the messages circulating could be several years old.

They also pointed out that a similar complaint was allegedly made in 2016 but was dismissed in court.

'A history of legal troubles'

Yashaswini Gowda has had a history of legal troubles. She was booked earlier this year under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act in connection with a kidnapping case in Bengaluru and was recently released on bail.

More than a decade ago, she had been listed as a rowdy-sheeter by Basavanagudi police, a tag that was later removed.