A 28-year-old Infosys employee, Swapnil Nagesh Mali, was arrested on July 1 for allegedly filming women colleagues inside the women’s restroom at Infosys’ Electronic City campus in Bengaluru. The incident came to light on June 30 when a female employee noticed suspicious activity in an adjacent stall and caught Mali in the act.
Subsequent checks of his phone by HR revealed over 30 explicit videos of different women. The case has triggered a police investigation and public outrage over workplace safety and privacy, with Mali facing charges under the Indian Penal Code and IT Act.
Caught Red-Handed: How the Incident Unfolded
The incident occurred when a 35-year-old Technical Test Lead noticed a reflection and movement from the neighbouring stall while using the third-floor women’s washroom. Investigating further, she saw Mali standing on the commode, filming her with his mobile phone. The woman immediately raised an alarm, prompting colleagues to intervene and prevent Mali from fleeing.
Infosys HR staff checked his phone and found more than 30 objectionable videos of women, including the complainant, as well as over 50 videos downloaded from the internet. A screenshot was taken as evidence before the original video was deleted. The victim, disturbed by the company’s initial attempt to resolve the matter internally, filed a formal complaint with the police after consulting her husband.
Escalation, Police Action, and Ongoing Probe
The victim’s husband confronted Infosys management, criticising the initial handling and demanding accountability. Police arrested Mali the same day based on the woman’s statement and digital evidence. The accused, who had joined Infosys just three months earlier and hails from Sangli, Maharashtra, is now facing charges of voyeurism, criminal breach of privacy, and sexual harassment under the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act.
Police are investigating whether other women were targeted and are conducting forensic analysis of the accused’s phone to recover any deleted material. Infosys has not yet issued a detailed public statement, but the case has sparked widespread concern about corporate responsibility and the need for robust preventive measures.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This deeply troubling incident exposes critical gaps in workplace safety and privacy protocols within India’s corporate sector. Every employee deserves a secure and respectful environment, and it is imperative for companies to respond swiftly, transparently, and with empathy when such violations occur.
Beyond immediate action, organisations must strengthen preventive systems, encourage reporting, and support survivors.
