India News | Karnataka: Gym Owner Booked for Blackmail, Sexual Assault in Davangere
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. According to the police report, the complainant said she had been attending the gym located near Durgambika School in Nituvalli for the past one and a half years and accused the owner-cum-trainer of sexually exploiting women members, secretly recording private moments and blackmailing victims using photos and videos.
Davangere (Karnataka) [India], July 16 (ANI): The Davangere Women Police in Karantaka's Davangere district, on Thursday, registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a local gym owner for allegedly blackmailing and repeatedly sexually assaulting a 30-year-old housewife.
According to the police report, the complainant said she had been attending the gym located near Durgambika School in Nituvalli for the past one and a half years and accused the owner-cum-trainer of sexually exploiting women members, secretly recording private moments and blackmailing victims using photos and videos.
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The accused allegedly captured nude videos and photographs of the victim without her consent inside the gym's changing room. The complainant stated that over the last three to four months, the accused repeatedly threatened her with these recordings, demanding sexual favours. He allegedly threatened to leak the videos on social media platforms, aiming to tarnish her reputation and that of her husband, who is a local professor. Fearing social stigma, the victim initially kept the ordeal to herself.
However, on the night of March 28, this year, the trainer allegedly sexually assaulted her after calling her to the gym by threatening to bring the photos to her house and expose her to her family if she did not show up. Out of fear, the victim went to the gym at around 23:00 hours, where the accused allegedly took advantage of her helplessness and sexually assaulted her. He further threatened to murder her and her family if she disclosed the incident to anyone. The victim eventually confided in her husband, leading to the delayed filing of the formal complaint on July 15.
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Following a written complaint, the Davanagere Women Police registered a case under various sectons of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 incluidng Rape under aggravated circumstances, criminal intimidation, and voyeurism / stalking protections.
The investigation is currently underway under the supervision of Police Inspector Manjappa Kuppeluru.
Speaking to ANI, the woman has alleged that the accused, who is the owner-cum-trainer of the gym in Davangere had been secretly recording women and threatening to leak the footage on social media if they refused to comply with his demands.
"I have been going to this gym for the last one to one and a half years. Recently, about five months ago, they placed a hidden camera in the ladies' dressing room, recorded it, and now they are blackmailing us," the complainant alleged.
Claiming that several women had been similarly targeted, she said the police recovered multiple videos after seizing the accused's mobile phone. "This should not happen to any other women. It has happened to many people. When the police seized their mobile phone, there were many similar videos found on it. They are currently investigating all of it," she said.Davanagere Superintendant of Police, Shekhar HT said, "With respect to the gym incident that occurred one week ago, the victim has filed a complaint alleging harassment and sexual abuse. Accordingly, we have registered a case of sexual assault, and the investigation is currently underway."
"We are conducting a free and fair investigation into the matter...We have taken precautionary measures. We visited gyms where women regularly work out and instructed all gym owners to strictly follow the prescribed safety guidelines," the police official said.
He said that on Wednesday he had called a meeting of all gym owners to discuss measures they should implement to ensure the safety and security of women at these fitness centres. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)