S Ranga Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police Begumpet, slapped B Manga alias Padma, who police claimed was a habitual offneder, during a media briefing.
Rao slapped the woman after she started protesting during the press conference that she had not committed any crime and that she had been falsely booked by the police.
B Sumathi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone) said that an inquiry had been instituted into the slapping incident on the instructions of the police commissioner.
She added that Manga was a habitual offender and she along with three other women were involved in a number of crimes committed after diverting the attention of the victims.
The four were arrested today and produced before a local court today, the DCP said.
When contacted, Ranga Rao said he was just "pushing" the woman to get her to leave the press conference as she was constantly making allegations against the police.