Why Was a Man Arrested for Secretly Filming Women in Public in B'luru?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Privacy Violations: Women’s privacy is crucial and must be respected.
- Legal Framework: Stronger laws are needed to protect against voyeurism.
- Public Awareness: Awareness campaigns on consent and privacy are essential.
- Support for Victims: Victims should be encouraged to report such incidents.
- Community Responsibility: Society must collectively condemn such acts.
Bengaluru, July 10 (NationPress) - On Thursday, the Bengaluru Police apprehended a 26-year-old suspect for allegedly recording videos of women in public spaces and sharing them on social media in an inappropriate manner. The individual has been identified as Gurudeep Singh. Authorities from Banashankari police took him into custody following a suo motu case registration. This action was prompted after one of the victims, featured in a video, tagged the Bengaluru Police Department on Instagram, requesting intervention.
DCP (South) Lokesh Jagalasar confirmed that a person who had been capturing voyeuristic footage of women and posting it online on Instagram has been arrested, based on a suo motu FIR lodged at the Banashankari police station.
The FIR was filed a few weeks back. The police are currently working to deactivate the suspect’s Instagram account, he noted.
Reports indicate that the accused had been posting videos of women filmed in public locations such as Church Street, without their consent.
A young woman, claiming to be one of the victims, took to Instagram to share her ordeal, igniting widespread outrage.
The Instagram account, which purported to display “street scenes,” featured videos of women filmed without their knowledge, often zooming in on their bodies.
One woman who reported the incident mentioned that she began receiving inappropriate messages after a video of her was shared. She emphasized that having a public Instagram profile or merely being in a public area does not equate to granting permission to be filmed.
The accused has been charged under Section 78 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
The FIR indicates that the suspect filmed women from both the front and back in public areas, having uploaded 45 such videos on Instagram.
“By doing so, the accused has infringed upon the privacy of women and compromised their dignity,” the FIR states. Further investigations are ongoing.