Bengaluru's first female rowdy-sheeter Muniyamma is now Sri Rama Sene women’s unit chief

Bengaluru, Sept 23: Yashaswini Mahesh Gowda alias Muniyamma, the first female rowdy-sheeter of Bengaluru, has finally found a suitable platform to “legalize” her activities: She has been appointed as the president of the women’s wing of the Sri Rama Sene.

40-year-old Yashaswini faces different criminal charges, including attempt to murder. She is a rowdy-sheeter with Subramanyapura police in south Bengaluru. She had made headlines when she escaped from a private hospital in May 2016. After evading police for 112 days, Yashaswini finally surrendered.

Yashaswini runs her ‘business’ from home along with her husband and brothers. Her ‘clientele’ are mostly middle class and lower middle class women who easily fall prey to her alleged Shylockian ways of money lending.

The mother of two moved to Bengaluru a few years ago along with her history-sheeter husband Mahesh alias Dadiya Mahesha.

Yashwaswini and her husband stay in Subramanyapura. Her husband is a native of Kanakapura and has a history sheet against him in JP Nagar police station. The couple started their ‘business’ in alleged crimes in 2012. A case of chain snatching, robbery and extortion was filed on August 3, 2012 against Yashaswini. She also has two cases of chain snatching and 10 cases registered in JP Nagar against her. She then resorted to ‘meter-baddi’ business.

“Every single person who has borrowed money from her dreads not repaying it. The kind of language she uses and her way of dealing with recovery scares them,” said a police officer.

A video showing Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik electing Yashaswini to the post at a ceremony at a private hotel went viral online, with many criticising him. Muthalik justified Yashaswini’s appointment, saying she is still an accused and not a convict.

“Yashaswini requested us to give her a chance to work for the organisation and we agreed. Don’t we see that many politicians and social activists, who face criminal charges, serving society in different capacities?” questioned Mutalik, who is also facing several criminal cases.

Yashaswini said she was happy about the new post. “In the past, I had got an inspector suspended by filing a complaint against him about dereliction of duty. He is responsible for my name being added in the history sheet. I will now challenge this legally and come out clean. Just because my name is on this list, should I refrain from social service,” she asked.

“I am sure of coming out clean from the court cases. I will protect our women and ensure Hindutva is upheld,” said Yashaswini, who according to police has so far assaulted at least two dozen (Hindu) women in in several areas, as her business is widespread.