In a deeply disturbing development at a private engineering college in South Bengaluru, a 21-year-old female student was allegedly raped by her junior classmate, Jeevan Gowda, inside a men’s washroom on October 10, 2025. The survivor, a seventh-semester student, reported the assault five days later on October 15, prompting immediate police action, according to an NDTV report.
The accused, a sixth-semester student, was arrested by the Hanumanthanagar Police and remanded to judicial custody. The case, registered under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), is under active investigation, with forensic and digital evidence currently being examined given the absence of CCTV cameras in the incident location.
Timeline and Circumstances
According to the survivor’s complaint and police reports, Jeevan Gowda had been a classmate before falling behind academically due to backlog issues. On the day of the assault, the survivor met the accused briefly to collect some belongings. During lunch break, the accused called her repeatedly, persuading her to meet near the architecture block on the seventh floor.
On arrival, he reportedly attempted to forcibly kiss her. When she tried to escape using the lift, he followed her to the sixth floor, forcibly dragged her into the men’s washroom, locked the door, confiscated her ringing phone, and sexually assaulted her between 1:30 pm and 1:50 pm. The survivor confided in two friends following the assault, who encouraged her to report it to her parents and file a police complaint.
Campus Safety and Wider Context
This incident raises serious concerns over the safety measures in place at educational institutions in Karnataka. The case has drawn strong political criticism, with opposition leaders attributing the rise in sexual offences in Bengaluru to government inaction.
Over 979 sexual assault cases on girls have been reported in the state in the last four months, with north Bengaluru alone accounting for more than 114 such cases. Calls for a fact-finding mission by the National Commission for Women reflect the urgency of addressing the growing fears among women students.
The law & order in Karnataka has COLLAPSED.
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) October 17, 2025
In just 4 months, 979 sexual assaults on girls. Bengaluru alone: 114+ cases. Our women & children are living in fear due to the @INCKarnataka government's criminal inaction.
From the brutal rape and murder of a tribal girl in Mysuru… pic.twitter.com/J4DijHlCAx
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This harrowing incident reinforces the urgent imperative for educational institutions and authorities to prioritise student safety, particularly that of women, through comprehensive and enforced security protocols. The Logical Indian stresses the need for immediate action: implementation of surveillance systems, sensitisation programmes, accessible reporting channels, and robust support networks for survivors.
Beyond physical safety, fostering an environment of respect, empathy, and zero tolerance for gender-based violence is essential to the well-being of students. As a community, it is vital to engage in open dialogue and collective vigilance to eradicate such violence and build campuses where everyone can learn and thrive without fear.
