700 CCTVs, 3 states: Bengaluru cops nab sex assault accused from Kerala after viral BTM Layout footage

The incident happened in BTM Layout

The Bengaluru Police on Sunday arrested the accused of molesting a woman in Bengaluru's BTM Layout, at Suddaguntepalya, earlier this month. The police tracked him down to Kozhikode, Kerala after an extensive investigation, during which officials scrutinised footage from more than 700 CCTV cameras across three states.

A CCTV video captured the man following two women through an alley in Bengaluru’s BTM Layout at around 1.55 am on April 3. As the women attempted to evade him, he suddenly charged on one of them while the other tried to intervene. The accused, identified as 26-year-old Santosh, then fled the scene.

According to the police, Santosh works as a driver at a Jaguar showroom in the city. He initially escaped to Hosur in Tamil Nadu following the incident, before moving to Salem and eventually reaching Kozhikode, Kerala. After an intensive week-long manhunt across three states, police arrested him in a remote village in Kerala.

Additionally, though police were able to track down the victim and her friend, they reportedly requested the cops for privacy and told them that they don't want to be a part of the investigation, news agency PTI reported.

The police have registered a case under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to assault, sexual harassment, and stalking. One of the key challenges in the case was the low quality of the CCTV footage, which made identifying the suspect more difficult.

The incident had escalated into a political controversy after Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that such incidents are "common in big cities," while reacting to the disturbing case of sexual harassment.

"I keep telling the police commissioner daily to be careful, to monitor all areas through patrolling. This is something I say almost every day. When some incidents happen here and there, of course, people's attention will be drawn towards them. The cops are working 24X7. Some incidents happen here and there. In such a big city, such incidents will happen. We will take the necessary action according to the law. I have spoken to the commissioner this morning, too,” he said.

Reacting to the remarks of the Home Minister, BJP spokesperson Prashanth G said, "This is such an insensitive remark. Is he normalising sexual assault and crimes against women? He is shying away from responsibility and doesn't want to be accountable."

BJP MLA and former deputy chief minister Ashwath Narayan also criticised the Karnataka Home Minister’s remark. "The groping incident is condemnable. The Home Minister's response is disgusting and demotivating. People are losing confidence because of these incidents and statements. His statement shows how helpless he is as a home minister. He should make a responsible statement," Narayan said.

Responding to the backlash, G Parameshwara later issued an apology, stating that his words had been misunderstood. "I want to clarify that my statement yesterday was misinterpreted. I have always prioritised women’s safety and have worked to ensure proper use of the Nirbhaya funds. I urge people not to twist my words. If my statement has hurt any woman, I sincerely apologise," he said.