Bengaluru Police have arrested 26-year-old Gurdeep Singh, a hotel management graduate, for allegedly running an Instagram account that posted videos and photographs of women filmed without their consent in popular public spaces such as Church Street, MG Road, and Koramangala.
The arrest came after a woman publicly raised concerns on Instagram, revealing that she was one of the women secretly recorded.
Despite her repeated requests to remove the videos, the content remained online, leading to harassment in the form of vulgar messages from strangers. Following widespread public outrage and the viral nature of her post, police initiated a suo motu investigation and detained Singh at his residence in KR Puram. The investigation is ongoing.
Viral Appeal Sparks Public Outcry Over Privacy Violations
The incident came to light when the woman, who discovered herself in one of the videos posted on the Instagram, took to social media to expose the violation of her privacy. She wrote, “Just because my account is public doesn’t mean I consent to be filmed publicly.
That is not how consent works.” Despite reporting the video multiple times and requesting its removal, she received no response from the account operators or the platform. Instead, the video continued to circulate, attracting unwanted attention and vulgar messages from strangers.
This sparked a wave of solidarity online, with many users condemning the non-consensual filming and demanding swift action from authorities and social media platforms alike. The Instagram page had uploaded over 57 reels, often focusing on women’s bodies without their knowledge, capturing candid moments in crowded areas of the city.
Police Crackdown on Voyeuristic Content and Legal Action
Following the viral post, Bengaluru Police launched an investigation and identified Gurdeep Singh as the person behind the Instagram account. Singh, who is currently unemployed and resides with his brother in KR Puram, allegedly operated the page that described its content as “capturing the GOLDEN TIME” and attempted to justify the videos as “entertainment.”
The same videos were also posted on a YouTube channel with over 10,500 subscribers, further amplifying the breach of privacy. Police have registered an FIR under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, which deals with publishing obscene material in electronic form, and Section 78(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Authorities have assured the public that the investigation is ongoing and have urged citizens to report any similar incidents. This case follows a disturbing pattern of voyeuristic content being circulated on social media, with previous cases on Instagram page highlighting the prevalence of such violations in Bengaluru.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This troubling episode highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect individuals’ privacy and dignity in both physical and digital spaces. The Logical Indian firmly condemns any form of non-consensual filming and online harassment, emphasising that consent is a fundamental right that must be respected at all times.
While we commend the swift action taken by Bengaluru Police, it is imperative that social media platforms become more proactive and responsive in removing such content promptly and supporting victims.
Moreover, stricter enforcement of existing privacy laws and the introduction of more robust legal frameworks are essential to deter offenders and protect vulnerable individuals. As a society committed to empathy, respect, and coexistence, how can we collectively foster safer digital environments and hold platforms accountable for upholding user privacy?
