Bengaluru: A staff member at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has been arrested after a foreign woman passenger accused him of sexually harassing her during an unauthorized security check at Terminal 2, police said.
The incident occurred after the woman had completed all mandatory security screening and immigration formalities and was preparing to board a flight to South Korea. According to police, the accused misused his position by falsely claiming to be conducting an additional security check.
In her complaint, the woman stated that the man approached her after the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and immigration checks were over. Introducing himself as airport staff, he allegedly told her that her bag was making a beeping sound. He further claimed that a regular security check would delay her boarding and persuaded her to step aside for a “private check.”
Police said the accused was not authorized to conduct any frisking or security checks.
During the alleged manual check, the woman told investigators that the man touched her private parts, hugged her tightly, and repeatedly touched her chest. She also alleged that he asked her to turn around and again touched her inappropriately. When she resisted and protested, the man fled the area, allegedly saying “thank you” before leaving.
The woman immediately reported the incident to airport security personnel. Airport authorities detained the suspect and handed him over to the police.
The accused has been identified as 25-year-old Mohhamed Affann Ahamed, a resident of Kammanahalli in Bengaluru. Police said the woman had arrived in India on a tourist visa in November and was returning to her home country at the time of the incident.
A case has been registered by the Kempegowda International Airport police, and the accused has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation is ongoing.
The incident has raised serious concerns about passenger safety and the misuse of authority at one of India’s busiest international airports.