Published May 07, 2026 | 1:28 PM ⚊ Updated May 07, 2026 | 1:30 PM
Over three hours from midnight, dozens of men repeatedly sexually harassed Commissioner Sumathi.
Synopsis: After Malkajgiri Police Commissioner Sumathi went undercover in plain clothes at Hyderabad’s Dilsukhnagar bus stand to assess women’s safety, she allegedly faced repeated sexual harassment from dozens of men. Telangana Police later detained around 40 people from the area and said they were counselled and warned against substance abuse, public nuisance and harassing women in public places.
Around 40 people were detained by the Telangana police in the early hours of Wednesday, 6 May, for sexually harassing Malkajgiri Police Commissioner Sumathi, who went undercover alone in plain clothes to assess security at the Dilsukhnagar bus stand.
According to reports, the officer visited the bus stand around midnight, dressed as an ordinary woman, without any visible police security to observe the situation firsthand.
Over three hours from midnight, dozens of men repeatedly sexually harassed her, according to Telangana Police. Around 40 people from the area were later detained.
Oblivious to her identity, a group of alleged miscreants reportedly surrounded her and made obscene remarks, including “Will you come?” and “What is your rate?”
The commissioner also reportedly saw several people at the bus stand, including students and others, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs. Those detained were reportedly counselled and warned against substance abuse, public nuisance and harassing women in public places.
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According to reports, instead of charging criminal cases against the offenders, the police issued strict warnings regarding public behaviour, sensitised them about women’s safety and respect in public spaces, and ordered counselling sessions.
Meanwhile, BRS leader Sravan Dasoju criticised the Congress government and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who also has the portfolio of the Home Ministry in the state, over women’s safety.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote that “true freedom is when a woman can walk fearlessly at midnight,” Dasoju said the present situation in Hyderabad under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy resembled a “rowdy rajyam” rather than a safe city.
“If even a serving IPS officer, standing alone in Dilsukhnagar disguised as an ordinary woman, can be surrounded and harassed by 40 miscreants, one can only imagine the condition of common women in the city,” he said.
According to NCRB 2024 data released on 6 May 2026, Hyderabad registered 3,255 total crimes against women in 2024.
On sexual harassment specifically, the city recorded 358 cases under Section 75 BNS. That figure places Hyderabad fourth among metros, well behind Delhi, which recorded 1,058 cases and leads the national ranking, followed by Jaipur (497 cases) and Mumbai (411 cases).
Harassment in public spaces produced 49 registered cases. Public transport contributed 24 cases.
Dasoju questioned the effectiveness of the state’s policing and surveillance systems, alleging that despite the Chief Minister spending significant time at the Integrated Command and Control Centre, the ground reality reflected a collapse of law and order.
“Are these multi-crore surveillance systems meant to monitor political opponents or to protect the public?” he asked.
He further criticised the police response, pointing out that reportedly no patrol vehicle reached the spot for nearly three hours.
“What happened to the She Teams? Where are the Blue Colts?” he asked, adding that NCRB data showing a rise in crimes against women in Hyderabad reflected the government’s failure to ensure safety.
Dasoju also accused the government of misusing the police force for political vendetta and illegal cases instead of public protection.
“As Home Minister, the Chief Minister has failed. If even an IPS officer is not safe in this city, what security do ordinary women have?” he said, demanding an immediate explanation from the government.
A senior IPS officer from the Telangana cadre, Sumathi has held several important positions during her career. Before taking charge as the Commissioner of Police of Malkajgiri on 1 May, she served as the Chief of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB). She also reportedly played a key role in the surrender of several top Maoists led by Devuji and others during her tenure in intelligence operations.
(With inputs from Sumit Jha.)
