The Karnataka High Court has rejected a plea to dismiss the FIR lodged against an airport employee regarding the alleged sexual harassment of a South Korean woman at Kempegowda International Airport. The court, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, criticized the accused’s behavior and declined to quash the FIR, questioning the rationale for sparing the accused.
Expressing disapproval over the incident, the court highlighted that the victim, a foreign national, had detailed her distressing experience. It also raised concerns about why the accused had taken her to a men’s restroom, emphasizing the seriousness of the accusations.
Notably, the court mentioned that the airport staffer, who is employed by a private company, reportedly guided the South Korean woman to a restroom, positioned her in a “T” stance, and engaged in inappropriate touching. The court further scrutinized the accused’s actions, questioning his professional integrity and the justification for leading the victim to a men’s restroom.
A case was filed against the accused at the BIAL police station following the woman’s complaint, which outlined the events of January 19 when the alleged harassment took place at the airport. The accused, associated with a firm handling ground and cargo operations, allegedly diverted the victim near a men’s washroom under the guise of addressing a baggage issue, where the misconduct occurred despite her objections.
The woman promptly alerted airport security personnel after the incident, leading to the accused’s detention and subsequent handover to the police.
