In a disturbing incident that has raised serious concerns about public safety, a 16-year-old boy was detained by Bengaluru police on Sunday night for allegedly recording videos of women inside a cinema hall washroom. The event unfolded at the popular Sandhya Theatre, located near the Silk Board junction in BTM Layout, South Bengaluru.
The Shocking Discovery During Film Interval
The incident came to light around 8:45 PM during the screening of the Telugu film Nuvvu Naaku Nachchav. A woman entered the washroom during the interval and noticed a mobile phone strategically placed atop an open toilet cubicle. She immediately realized she was being recorded and raised an alarm, alerting the theatre management and her husband.
Her alert prompted swift action from other audience members. The boy was found hiding in a cubicle. The crowd, which later swelled to over 300 people, apprehended the juvenile and seized his mobile phone before he could delete the illicit recordings. The police were informed via the 'Namma 112' emergency helpline at approximately 9:30 PM.
Police Intervention and Investigation Details
Hoysala patrol personnel rushed to the spot and rescued the teenager from the angry crowd. Investigators from the South-East Cyber Crime police station, led by Inspector Eshwari PN, took charge of the case. Upon examining the seized phone, they recovered videos of at least six different women.
The boy, who had arrived in Bengaluru from Nepal just two weeks prior with his parents, confessed to the crime. His method involved entering a cubicle before the interval, climbing onto the commode, and filming women in the adjacent stalls. A case has been registered under Section 77 (voyeurism) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. The mobile phone has been sent for forensic analysis, and the juvenile will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
Brother and Theatre Staff Under Scrutiny
The investigation has widened to include how the minor gained access to the restricted area. His cousin, identified as Kamal, works as a housekeeping staffer at the theatre and had brought the boy along to assist with cleaning duties. Theatre staff members Thimmaraju and Nagaraju are also being questioned to ascertain how the boy was allowed to work without formal recruitment.
A senior police officer stated that the Labour Department has been alerted for potential action against the theatre management for this lapse. Another suspect was also initially taken in for questioning as part of the probe.
This incident highlights critical gaps in security and staff verification processes in public spaces, leading to a serious breach of privacy for the victims. The police action underscores the legal repercussions for such voyeuristic acts under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
