In a disturbing incident in Karnataka, law enforcement officials have arrested Mohammad Sawad, a 21-year-old college student, for allegedly recording and circulating explicit videos of women on social media platforms. The student, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) at a Bengaluru college, resides in the Kodagu district. The arrest was made on January 29 following a thorough investigation initiated after a formal complaint was lodged.
The troubling situation came to light when M S Prasanna Bhat, the president of the Kodagu Development Committee, received explicit video clips on his WhatsApp on January 21. These clips, reportedly sent by a resident of Napoklu, prompted Bhat to report the matter to local police, leading to a swift investigation into the matter.
- Explicit content confirmed — Police investigations revealed that the videos featured Mohammad Sawad engaging in sexual acts with different women.
- Self-recorded videos — The footage was found to be self-filmed by the accused during the encounters.
- Widespread distribution — The sensitive content was deliberately shared across multiple social media platforms, raising serious legal concerns.
Based on the evidence gathered, including the complaint and the verification of the videos, police registered a criminal case on January 22. The charges include violations under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman, and Section 294, which deals with the sale of obscene material. Additionally, relevant sections of the Information Technology Act were invoked, highlighting the severity of the offense.
This case underscores the growing concern regarding the misuse of technology to exploit individuals and violate their privacy. Authorities are emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and awareness programs to combat such incidents effectively. The incident also highlights the role of vigilant community members like Bhat, who took prompt action to address the issue.