Bengaluru News: Bengaluru Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a molestation incident that occurred in Suddaguntepalya, BTM Layout, earlier this month.
The arrest follows a thorough investigation involving nearly 700 CCTV camera reviews across three states.
The alleged assault took place around 1:55 AM on April 3. CCTV footage that later circulated widely on social media showed a man following two women as they walked down the street. He reportedly grabbed one of the women and fled when she screamed for help.
Ten days after the incident, police identified and apprehended the suspect, a 29-year-old cab driver named Santosh D. He was found at a friend’s house in Kozhikode, Kerala. According to an Hindustan Times report, Santosh works at a Jaguar showroom in Bengaluru and lives with his family in Tilaknagar.
The police began their investigation based on the viral CCTV footage. Although the victim did not file a formal complaint, the owner of the house where the CCTV was installed reported the incident to the authorities after seeing the recordings. The suspect was found to be intoxicated during the assault.
Following the incident, the police analysed CCTV cameras in the area and traced Santosh’s movements. After fleeing to Hosur, he stayed with a friend before travelling to Kozhikode.
The police filed an FIR against him under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including assault and sexual harassment. The manhunt, which spanned about a week, moved through Tamil Nadu and into Kerala before concluding with his arrest.
While the police managed to locate the victim and her friend, they requested privacy and opted not to participate further in the investigation. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda stated that efforts were made to apprehend the suspect based on the CCTV evidence.
Political Reaction
Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara faced backlash after remarking that such incidents are “common in big cities.” His comments drew criticism from the BJP, with spokesperson Prashanth G. questioning whether he was normalising sexual assault. In response to the outrage, Parameshwara later apologised, asserting that his words were misunderstood and expressing concern for women’s safety.