Bengaluru: In a distressing incident, a trainer from a well-known fitness center has been apprehended for allegedly taking unauthorized photos and videos of a woman while she was bathing after her workout session. The 29-year-old woman, who frequented the fitness center located near NRI Layout in Banasawadi, filed a complaint regarding the unsettling experience.
The incident occurred between 9 am and 11 am on a Sunday. The woman became suspicious when she noticed a mobile phone near the bathroom window and, upon emerging from the bathroom, could not find anyone nearby. She questioned another coach present at the facility.
To validate her concerns, she contacted the manager and reviewed the CCTV footage. It was during this inspection that she discovered evidence of the accused taking inappropriate photographs. The victim, an IT professional residing in Akshayanagar, Ramamurthynagar, promptly reported the incident to her family and subsequently lodged a police complaint against the fitness coach, identified as HS Sibiachon, on the following Monday.
The woman had joined the fitness center two months earlier to participate in badminton and swimming activities. The incident occurred while she was taking a post-swimming bath. As per her complaint, she noticed someone capturing photos on a mobile device through the bathroom window, prompting her to exit, only to find no one in the vicinity. She immediately reported the incident to the gym’s manager, Deepak, who, upon reviewing the CCTV footage, confirmed her trainer’s involvement in the intrusive act.
The arrested coach hails from Kerala, and authorities seized his mobile phone, which had allegedly been used to capture the illicit photos and videos. The device has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for data recovery since it was reported that the accused had deleted the incriminating content.
Further inquiries are being conducted to determine if any prior complaints or incidents involving the accused had occurred. Preliminary investigations suggest that he may not be a first-time offender. The gym management has been directed to address the matter seriously.
A case of voyeurism has been registered against the accused under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the police continue to investigate the incident.
