A police constable in Bengaluru has been suspended for negligence after a photo surfaced showing a theft accused wearing his uniform to show off his wife while he was in police custody.

According to police officials, Constable Sonare H R, posted at Govindapura police station, was suspended after it was found that he had allowed Saleem Sheikh, also known as Bombay Saleem and an accused in over 50 theft cases, to wear his police uniform while in custody.

The incident came to light during an investigation by the Indiranagar police into a theft case reported on June 23. While analysing CCTV footage and mobile phone data, police identified Saleem as being part of a gang involved in the case.

During the investigation, the Indiranagar police examined Saleem’s mobile phone and found a screenshot of a WhatsApp video call. In the image, Saleem was seen wearing a police uniform. He told police that the woman in the video call was his wife.

Further inquiry revealed that Saleem had been arrested by the Govindapura police last year in a similar theft case. At that time, police had taken him outside Bengaluru to recover stolen valuables and stayed in a hotel. It was during this trip that Saleem wore Sonare’s uniform and made a video call to his wife.

Following these findings, Constable Sonar has now been suspended pending further inquiry.

– Ends