Bengaluru man arrested for filming women without consent, triggered by viral Instagram complaint
Bengaluru: A man has been arrested for allegedly operating an Instagram account that posted videos and photographs of women without their knowledge or consent in Bengaluru’s Church Street area. The arrest was made after a woman’s Instagram post highlighted her experience with the account. After her post went viral police initiated the case suo motu.
26-years-old accused Gurdeep Singh, is an unemployed hotel management graduate and was arrested from his house located in the KR Puram area, where he lives with his brother.
Through an Instagram account Singh had been uploading video clips recorded in public spaces along Church Street which is a bustling and popular pedestrian zone in central Bengaluru. Many of the clips featured women walking by, appearing unaware they were being recorded. In several clips the camera discreetly followed the women, often under the pretext of capturing “street chaos.”
The matter garnered attention after a woman shared her concern and frustration through an Instagram post. She alleged that she was filmed without her knowledge and consent and she mentioned that getting the video removed through Instagram’s reporting tools had been unsuccessful.
“This person walks around Church Street pretending to film the 'chaos,’ but in reality, all they do is follow women and record them without their consent. It happened to me. And I’m sure many others have no idea they’ve been filmed too. Just because my account is public doesn’t mean I consent to be filmed publicly. That is not how consent works,” she said.
She also reported receiving vulgar messages online after the video surfaced.
While the police officials informed that due to the platform’s internal policies, efforts to take down the Instagram account in question have become complicated, the authorities are now preparing to seek judicial intervention to compel Meta, Instagram's parent company, to remove the content and assist them in investigation.
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Udhayanidhi accuses BJP of not releasing funds for TN
Gobichettipalayam (PTI): Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday charged the BJP government at the Centre with not releasing funds to the state and accused it of "snatching" TN's rights.
Addressing a poll rally at Gobichettipalayam in the western Erode district, the DMK youth wing chief claimed the Centre has not released funds to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for education.
"They (union government) have snatched all our rights," he charged.
With regard to the Centre's proposal for delimitation, he said chief minister M K Stalin was the first person in the country to raise the voice against the union government's move. He claimed that it was a "huge victory" for the INDIA alliance, as the bill was defeated for lack of majority after the opposition voted against it in the Lok Sabha.
Listing out various welfare measures implemented by the DMK government, he said the existing "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai" (monthly financial assistance for women) will be doubled to Rs 2,000 if DMK was voted to power again.
The deputy chief minister charged that the BJP and AIADMK have tried to stall it by moving the court. "At present more than 1.3 crore women have benefited from the scheme", he said.
"Similarly, the breakfast scheme for the government school students will be extended till Class VIII", he said adding "more than 35 lakh college students across the state will be getting free laptops once the DMK government is formed".
Udhayanidhi also pointed out at the "Illatharasi" poll promise, providing Rs 8,000 worth of coupons to non-income tax paying women where they could buy or replace any household appliances of their choice.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23 and the results declared on May 4 following counting of polled votes.
