The Bengaluru Police have initiated a formal investigation against the operator of a now-deleted Instagram page that shared unauthorised and intrusive videos of women travelling on the Namma Metro, sparking massive outrage on social media. The case, which involves serious privacy violations, has led to widespread condemnation from both the public and political leaders.
The Instagram account, operating under the handle @metro_chicks, posted at least 14 videos of women commuters captured without their knowledge or permission inside metro coaches and on platforms. The posts contained captions such as “finding beautiful girls on Namma Metro” and featured women being followed and recorded without consent. Comments were disabled, but the page amassed over 6,000 followers before being taken down.
The issue came to light when a user on platform X (formerly Twitter) flagged the content and tagged both the Bengaluru City Police and the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). The post quickly went viral, prompting an immediate reaction from authorities. Lokesh B. Jagalasar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), responded: “An FIR has been booked in this regard at Banashankari PS and investigation is taken up.”
Police Confirms FIR has been Filed
Following the uproar, police confirmed that a suo motu FIR had been filed at the Banashankari Police Station. “Upon further examination of the account, it was found that metro_chicks had uploaded a total of 14 videos, which appear to violate the dignity of women. The Telegram channel was taken down and all Instagram posts were deleted,” read a statement from the FIR.
Efforts are now underway to trace the individual(s) behind the account. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda stated, “A case has been registered at Banashankari Police Station. The accused will be traced and arrested.”
The Instagram account’s follower count actually increased after the controversy erupted from 5,605 to over 6,000 in a single day. Its associated Telegram channel, which had 1,188 subscribers, has also been deactivated.
Political Leaders Expresses Anger
Political figures expressed their outrage on social media. BJP MP from Bengaluru, PC Mohan, posted on X: “It’s a blatant violation of privacy and dignity, not just creepy but a serious crime. @BlrCityPolice, take immediate action.” Another BJP leader, Tejasvi Surya, wrote: “Secretly photographing women in public transport is not just vile — it’s a serious crime. This is a gross violation of dignity and safety, and there must be zero tolerance for such behaviour.”
Authorities believe that none of the women filmed were aware of being recorded, and there is no indication they provided consent. The videos were recorded in public transport settings, raising serious concerns about digital safety and personal privacy in urban commuting spaces.
The police are now working with Instagram to permanently suspend the account and identify the person responsible for the content. Public safety officials have reiterated the importance of respecting privacy in public spaces and have urged citizens to report similar violations immediately.
