Bengaluru molestation case

BENGALURU: A 28-year-old Rapido bike-taxi captain, arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a 20-year-old woman passenger, claimed during interrogation that he was merely trying to rub his aching back.“I was suffering from back pain, was trying to reach my back to rub it as it was aching,” he said during interrogation.Police, however, said the woman had clearly objected to his actions mid-ride but the accused continued misbehaving despite her protests.

The incident occurred on Thursday when the woman, who is new to Bengaluru and undergoing training for an airline cabin crew job, booked a Rapido ride from Church Street to her paying-guest accommodation in Sudhamanagar.According to police, during the journey, the rider, identified as Lokesh, a resident of Muniyappa Layout in Ullal, allegedly touched the woman’s leg multiple times. “She asked him to stop but he continued. Terrified and unfamiliar with the route, she chose not to get down midway,” said an officer.After reaching her accommodation, the woman broke down and later narrated her ordeal on Instagram, writing, “While returning to my PG from Church Street on a Rapido ride, the captain tried to grab my legs while riding. I told him, ‘Bhaiya, kya kar rahe ho, mat karo,’ but he didn’t stop.”A passerby noticed her distress, confronted the bike-taxi driver, and forced him to apologise. However, as he left, the accused allegedly pointed a finger at her “in a way that made me feel even more unsafe,” she said in her post.Deputy commissioner of police (Central) Akshay M Hakay said the city police took suo motu cognisance of the Instagram post. “Our social media wing traced the video and contacted the victim. She was then called to the police station, where she lodged a complaint. A case was registered under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (sexual harassment),” he said.Police arrested Lokesh on Saturday and seized the bike used for the ride. Rapido representatives have been asked to share details of his background verification and employment history.