Voyeurism: No Karanataka HC relief for electrician

BENGALURU: The high court has refused to quash proceedings against a Shivamogga-based electrician, who is accused of planting a mobile phone in a woman’s home. The court noted that the charges levelled against him prima facie have the ingredients of voyeurism.
The woman filed a complaint with Shivamogga police in Jan 2021, alleging that the electrician and her family acquaintance S Veerabhadra Swamy had placed a mobile phone inside the electric switchboard in the hall of her house and captured her private images.She claimed he shared the visuals with her son’s in-laws, tarnishing her image and creating discord with her husband. The police chargesheet stated that the suspect blackmailed the complainant, saying her photos and videos would be sent to all her relatives.
It is also alleged that the accused issued a life threat to the woman and assaulted her with his hands.
The electrician challenged the proceedings, contending that the phone could not even take pictures or record videos. Justice M Nagaprasanna said the petitioner’s contention on the phone is a matter of evidence to be dealt with by the trial court. Any man who watches or captures the images of a woman, engaging in a private act, would be committing an offence of voyeurism, the judge added.