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Arrest of a Bengaluru Resident for Unauthorized Filming

A 27-year-old individual has been taken into custody in Bengaluru for unlawfully managing an Instagram account that posted unauthorized images and videos of female commuters on the city's Metro system. The suspect, identified as Diganth, hails from Hassan, Karnataka, and resided in the Thigalarapalya locality of Bengaluru. His arrest occurred on Friday, following the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) on Wednesday.

Authorities have confirmed that Diganth is suspected of operating the controversial Instagram handle, '@metro_chicks'. Lokesh B Jagalasar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), shared initial insights into the case, stating, 'Preliminary information indicates that he is 27 years old and employed in the accounts department of a private firm in the Murugeshpalya area. He was reportedly taking photos and recording videos during his commutes to and from work.'

Investigators are currently interrogating Diganth to uncover the platforms he utilized for uploading the illicit material and to determine if he received any financial gain from these actions. A significant focus of the investigation is to ascertain whether Diganth acted independently or was part of a larger network involved in this misconduct.

The '@metro_chicks' Instagram account had amassed over 5,000 followers and showcased numerous images and videos of women commuters both inside Metro trains and on the platforms. Importantly, police have noted that none of the women featured seemed to be aware that they were being photographed or recorded. The account came to the attention of law enforcement after a concerned user on X (formerly Twitter) reported the profile, prompting the Bengaluru Police to take swift action. Following the complaint and the FIR registration, all content from the account was promptly deleted, and the Instagram profile was subsequently removed from the platform.