The Powai police have registered an FIR in the case under section 354C (voyeurism). According to Mumbai Police, the 22-year-old canteen worker was arrested today
IIT Bombay. File Photo
A few hours after mid-day.com broke the story on Tuesday of an Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) student alleging that a canteen worker was peeping inside the hostel bathroom on Sunday night, the Mumbai Police informed that the 22-year-old canteen worker was arrested on Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maheshwar Reddy, DCP, Zone-X, said, "The mobile phone is in possession of the police and no video has been found in it. We have arrested him today and he will be produced in court tomorrow."
The Powai police have registered an FIR in the case under section 354C (voyeurism).
“There was an attempt to violate the personal space of women residents of a hostel by an employee of the hostel night canteen, by climbing a pipe duct. Because of the alertness of the residents, the culprit was caught and handed over to the police. The investigation, including cyber investigation, is being carried out by the Mumbai Police. The institute, as per the initial report, is not aware of any footage being shared from the phones confiscated from the culprit,” IIT Bombay spokesperson confirmed.
The canteen has been shut down immediately and will reopen, only after women staff is employed. “Gaps in the ducts, which may have been used by the suspects, have been closed. We are in discussions with the students to see what other additional steps we can take. IIT Bombay stands with its students and we will do everything in our capacity to ensure the safety and security of our students,” the institute said in the statement.
Also Read: Canteen worker recorded student’s video in hostel bathroom: IIT Bombay students
The IPC section 354C (voyeurism) defines the section as - Any man who watches, or captures the image of a woman engaging in a private act in circumstances where she would usually have the expectation of not being observed either by the perpetrator or by any other person at the behest of the perpetrator or disseminates such image1 shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year, but which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine, and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years, but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
In a similar incident, Chandigarh University students protested about the alleged secret filming of female students in hostel washrooms. Some students claimed that the videos were even leaked.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
