Bengaluru mass molestation: Police registers FIR

Bengaluru: Three days after the New Year's Eve revelry turned into a nightmare for several women who were allegedly molested at a large gathering in the city's downtown area, the police claimed to have found "credible" evidence of molestation and have registered an FIR.

As the incidents drew widespread outrage with no action from the police, Bengaluru's new Commissioner of Police, Praveen Sood, through a series of tweets last night, said his team was working on the case silently.

"As promised, we have found credible evidence in a case of wrongful confinement, molestation and attempt to rob," Sood had said in a tweet.

"We have taken action by registering an FIR. Investigation is in progress. Police is working.... though silently," he had said in another tweet.

Stating that enquiry is under way by an officer of DCP rank, he has said they have gone through the feeds from 45 cameras on MG Road, and unedited video is available with the police.

Eyewitness accounts had suggested that women were molested and groped and lewd remarks were also passed by miscreants late night on 31 December in the posh area even as it was claimed that 1,500 police personnel had been deployed to control the crowds.

The police had earlier said no one had come forward to file a complaint about the incident.

If any lady lodges a complaint of molestation that took place on 31 December night, the police will not waste even a minute in registering a case and launching a probe, Sood had tweeted on 2 January, adding that even without a complaint, if the police finds credible evidence of molestation, a case will be registered suo motu.

Sood took over as the City Police Commissioner from N S Megharikh on 1 January.