25-Year-Old Cab Driver Who Molested Woman During Morning Walk Arrested In Bengaluru

A 34-year-old woman was allegedly molested by a cab driver in Bengaluru's Kothnur area two days ago while she was waiting for a neighbor to join her for a morning walk. The accused was arrested on Monday, police said.

The incident, which occurred around 5 am on August 2 in Konanakunte police station limits of South Bengaluru, was caught on a CCTV camera of a house on the road and went viral on social media platforms, they said.

In the purported video (running 1.06 minutes), the woman is seen waiting in front of a house when she is suddenly grabbed from behind by a man. He holds her and molests her. She shouts for help and manages to run away, but he chases her. He overpowers her as she tries to free herself from his grasp. However, when the woman screams for help, he flees the scene.

Following the release of the CCTV footage, the police traced the victim and asked her to lodge a complaint.

"The woman was waiting in front of her neighbor's house in a narrow bylane to go for a morning walk when the incident occurred. An unidentified man allegedly caught hold of her and molested her. When she screamed, he managed to flee from the spot," a senior police officer said.

Based on a complaint given by her on August 4, a case was registered under sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 75 (sexual harassment), 78 (stalking), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and 126 (wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), he said.

"Investigation was taken up in this case, and we have nabbed the culprit responsible on Monday. It is found that a cab driver, Suresh, 25, used to frequently ferry corporate employees to and from that place (narrow bylane) to their place of work. On seeing the woman walking around, he tried to molest her. Further investigation is underway," Lokesh Jagalasar, DCP (South) said.

''Considering the gravity of the situation, ASI should have taken better steps in convincing them or bringing it to notice of senior officers. With respect to this, three policemen who were in knowledge of that incident, has been suspended as of yesterday,'' he further said.