Bengaluru: A Kannada television actress has alleged that she was secretly filmed inside a washroom during a public event and later blackmailed by an unidentified person who threatened to leak the video. Police officials said a case has been registered and an investigation is currently underway through the cyber crime unit.
Incident reported at indoor stadium event
According to police, the incident dates back to February 7, when the 32-year-old actress was attending a programme at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium. In her complaint, she stated that she had gone to use the women’s restroom inside the stadium premises when an unknown individual allegedly recorded an obscene and indecent video without her knowledge or consent.
Investigators said the act appears to have been carried out using a concealed mobile phone or recording device. The exact method used to capture the footage is being examined as part of the technical investigation.
Police are reviewing available CCTV footage from the venue and entry-exit points to identify suspicious movement near the washroom area around the time of the incident.
Video sent through social media account
As per the complaint, the alleged recording later surfaced through a message sent from an unidentified account on Instagram. The video clip was not sent directly to the actress but to the Instagram account of her friend, identified as Amrutha.
Police said the sender apparently assumed that the account belonged to the actress herself. The message reportedly included the video along with threats and demands for money.
In her statement, the actress said the accused person used the clip to blackmail her and issued threats of public circulation if payment was not made. She said the act caused severe mental distress and reputational harm.
Mental distress and reputational harm cited
In her written complaint, the actress stated that the circulation of such a video — even in a limited private message — amounts to a serious violation of privacy and dignity. She told police that the threat of release has caused emotional trauma and anxiety.
Officials said cases involving non-consensual recording and blackmail are treated with high priority, especially when they involve private spaces such as washrooms. Such acts attract stringent provisions under information technology and criminal laws.
Police are also working with the social media platform to trace the origin of the account used to send the clip, including linked email IDs, phone numbers, IP logs, and device fingerprints.
Cyber crime police begin technical probe
A formal complaint has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station, and a technical probe has begun. Officers are analysing digital evidence, including message metadata and account activity trails, to identify the sender.
Requests have been initiated to preserve platform data so that it can be used as admissible evidence. Police are also verifying whether similar complaints have been made about recordings at the same venue earlier.
Investigators said they will question event organisers and venue management regarding security arrangements, washroom privacy safeguards, and surveillance coverage.
Appeal for privacy and caution
Police have urged the public not to share or forward any such clips if they surface online, noting that forwarding obscene or non-consensual content is itself an offence. They also advised event venues to strengthen privacy safeguards in sensitive areas.
Officials reiterated that secretly filming any person in a private space and using such material for intimidation or extortion is a serious crime. Further updates are expected once digital tracing produces concrete leads.