A 32-year-old man employed in a private firm has been taken into custody for allegedly molesting a young woman near Eco World Tech Park in the Marathahalli area of Bengaluru. The incident occurred late at night on April 30, when the victim, a tech worker originally from another state, was walking home.
According to police, the accused, Srikanth Reddy, an MBA graduate and resident of Devarabeesanahalli, approached the woman on his two-wheeler and struck her from behind. Initially believing it to be a case of reckless driving, the woman soon realised the act was intentional when Reddy made a U-turn and hit her again with greater force.
The survivor told police she shouted for help and attempted to stop multiple people nearby, including auto drivers and pedestrians. However, despite the area being well-lit and usually busy, no one stepped forward to assist her. She later found refuge at a security booth before approaching the police the following day to file a complaint.
Victim Feels Deeply Hurt by the Incident
In her statement, the victim described feeling deeply disturbed not only by the assault but by the lack of response from those around her. “I screamed, I asked for help, but people simply watched,” she said. “The most shocking part is that it happened in a place surrounded by CCTV cameras and security guards. This reveals a bigger issue in how people perceive and react to women’s safety.”
The Marathahalli police launched a swift investigation. Since the bike’s license plate wasn’t visible in the footage near the scene, authorities reviewed nearly 100 surveillance videos from surrounding areas. A purple T-shirt worn by the accused and footage showing the bike’s number eventually led them to Reddy.
Following his arrest, police booked him under multiple sections, including for stalking. Investigators are now examining whether Reddy has a history of such behaviour. A senior officer confirmed that they are checking for similar past incidents involving the accused.
Similar Incident was Recorded Earlier
This case echoes another disturbing event from early April in Bengaluru’s BTM Layout, where a woman was groped in a narrow alley at around 2 a.m. CCTV footage of that assault triggered public outrage. In that case, the accused, a 29-year-old cab driver named Santosh Daniel, fled to Kerala. Bengaluru police tracked him using digital trails across 700 CCTV cameras and arrested him 10 days later.
In the recent Marathahalli incident, the survivor has chosen to speak publicly in the hope of breaking the silence often surrounding such attacks. “There’s a stigma attached to speaking out, but I don’t want this man to think he can walk free and do it again to someone else,” she said.
Police have assured that the case will be pursued thoroughly. Meanwhile, the incident continues to spark debate about public apathy and the limits of technology-driven safety measures in protecting women in urban spaces.
