The video purportedly shows Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary seated inside a car placing her hand on Sonu Sudhir’s head and blessing him. The clip has triggered widespread discussion and criticism across social media platforms.

This is not the first time the State Women’s Commission chairperson has courted controversy. Earlier, a video of her greeting and wishing Puneeth Kerehalli had also gone viral and sparked debate.

The latest incident reportedly took place during Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary’s visit to Udupi district. Members of the public and social media users have questioned her association with individuals allegedly linked to criminal backgrounds.

According to reports, Sonu Sudhir is an accused in two major criminal cases, and his name was included in the rowdy-sheeter list of Kapu police station between 2021 and 2023.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism, with many raising concerns over the conduct of the Women’s Commission chairperson and questioning whether there are links between public officials and former rowdy-sheeters.

Social media discussions have also highlighted Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary’s participation in various programmes during her Udupi district visit, further intensifying the controversy.