The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has submitted a chargesheet in the Udupi washroom filming case, revealing that the three women students involved confessed to their actions. The incident, which occurred in July 2023 at the Netra Jyothi Institute of Allied Health Sciences in Udupi, led to the suspension of the students for violating college rules and recording a fellow student in the women’s washroom.
According to the CID, the women claimed their actions were intended as a prank on a friend, but they mistakenly recorded someone else. The chargesheet, spanning approximately 1,000 pages and including statements from around 30 witnesses, was presented by Deputy Superintendent of Police Anjumala Nayak to the Principal and Civil Judge at the JMFC Court in Udupi.
CID officials have dismissed any allegations of communal motives behind the incident, stating that the accused, belonging to a Minority community, have no affiliations with external groups or statewide networks.
The accused students face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295A (outraging religious feelings), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 66E of the Information Technology Act.
Despite efforts, much of the deleted footage could not be recovered, as it was erased by the students in the presence of the victim. The case was transferred to the CID following political pressure and public outcry, prompting widespread protests in Udupi.
The involvement of National Commission for Women (NCW) member Khushbu Sundar brought attention to the absence of hidden cameras in the college toilets, debunking rumors spread by certain factions. Investigations into related matters, including the alleged dissemination of false accusations, are ongoing.
