Bengaluru airport staff arrested for sexually harassing South Korean woman during ‘security check’

A ground staff member at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a South Korean woman under the pretext of a routine security check. The incident occurred on Monday when the woman was at the airport to board a flight to Korea.

According to the complaint, the accused approached the passenger after immigration, checked her ticket and claimed her luggage had made a beeping sound. He allegedly told her that returning to the regular screening area could cause her to miss the flight and insisted on a separate inspection.

The staffer then allegedly took the woman near a men’s washroom and touched her inappropriately despite her objections. The woman stated that the accused continued the act, hugged her, said “thank you” and walked away.

Shaken by the incident, the passenger immediately alerted airport security personnel, who detained the accused and handed him over to the airport police. CCTV footage was examined and was said to have corroborated the woman’s account.

Police registered a case under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and arrested the accused. The ground handling company employing him terminated his services with immediate effect, while authorities said further investigation is underway.