Bengaluru City Police have registered an FIR after a woman alleged that a fellow passenger secretly recorded her during a Metro ride in Whitefield, with an investigation now underway. The incident reportedly took place at around 4.30pm on Tuesday and came to public attention after the woman shared a video of the confrontation on social media.
The woman, who identifies herself as Sowpika on Instagram, said she caught the man allegedly recording her inside the train. In the video, she appears distressed and asks him why he was recording her before demanding that he unlock his phone. Metro security personnel are visible during parts of the confrontation.
Sowpika said the incident occurred despite her being fully covered, and showed the clothing she was wearing at the time. Her account was shared in response to concerns that women may be blamed for the conduct of people who record them without consent. The allegation, however, has not been adjudicated and the police investigation is continuing.
According to the video, the man got off the train when it stopped and allegedly fled after taking back his phone. Sowpika said she had handed the phone to security personnel during the confrontation, but that the man snatched it and ran. The footage also shows a later interaction involving the woman and the man inside a Metro lift.
During the exchange, the woman repeatedly asks the man to unlock his phone and provide the password. He is heard saying that he is sorry, but later denies that the response amounted to an admission that he had recorded her. The man then takes the phone back and walks away, according to the video shared by the complainant.
The incident initially prompted the woman to approach Metro station authorities. She said in the video that she was told the matter would be followed up within seven days. After the video circulated online, Bengaluru City Police asked her to share details of the incident. The police subsequently posted an update stating that an FIR had been filed and that an investigation was underway.
The police update did not disclose the identity of the man, the sections invoked in the FIR, or whether any arrest had been made. Further action will depend on the investigation and the evidence gathered by the authorities, including the complainant’s account and any available footage or other material related to the incident.
