Union Minister Smriti Irani spotted a CCTV in the trial room while changing clothes in a store named FabIndia in Goa on Friday. This incident kicked a debate over privacy issues at such facilities.
The Superintendant of Police (North) Umesh Gaonkar said that 4 staff members have been arrested, namely Raju Sanap Mallappa Payanchi (24), Karim Sanap Amil Lakhani (24), Prashant Dattram Naik (20), Paresh Sadanamd Bhagat (26), all of them being local residents.
An FIR was immediately lodged and four guilty persons were arrested. Irani was on a 2-days holiday in Goa with her family when the incident took place. She immediately alerted her husband Zubin Irani.
The Calangute police found a CCTV installed in the ventilation zone. Police inspector Nilesh Rane said,”The camera was installed outside the changing room, but it seemed to have a view of the inside.”
“Following the complaint registered by Lobo, we arrested four persons of the FabIndia outlet who were on duty,” he said. He further added,”We have seized the hard disk and are scanning them. We are also trying to find out if they have kept any recording of the changing room.”
After spotting the camera, she called BJP Legislator Michael Lobo, who accompanied her to the police station. Lobo lodged the FIR on her behalf.
“When we went and switched the camera on, the entire video was recorded. This is mischief. Somebody has been watching the recordings,” he said.
Lobo represents Calangute in the state assembly and was said to be taking this matter very seriously.
“The camera was placed in a mischievous place and there is footage of women changing clothes.” “It’s a matter of concern that somebody’s privacy is being invaded. Somebody wanted to see a woman naked. This is unacceptable. Other showrooms and malls should be investigated,” Lobo further added.
SP Umesh Gaonkar said,” Irani’s statement has been recorded as a victim, along with another woman who had entered the room earlier. Police have already sealed the shop.”
Sections 354 C (Whoever watches or captures the image of a woman engaging in a private act in circumstances where she would usually have the expectation of not being observed either by the perpetrator or by any other peron), Section 509 (Word, gesture or act inteded to unsult the modesty of a woman), and Section 34 ( Common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been charged against the guilty.
Tags: Fab India Hidden Camera Smriti Irani
