In a disturbing development, Powai police arrested a canteen boy for allegedly recording a video in the girls’ hostel bathroom of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-Bombay).

The incident came to light on Sunday evening when a female student noticed a mobile phone placed at the window of a bathroom at student hostel number 10 on the IIT-B premises. She immediately alerted the authorities, who in turn alerted the police.

The police rushed to the hostel and questioned several persons, including five canteen boys. During the investigations, they arrested a 22-year-old canteen boy, after the hostel students and security guards identified him as the prime suspect in the case. The police seized the accused canteen boy’s mobile phone.

Talking to media persons here on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone X) Maheshwar Reddy confirmed the arrest of a canteen boy in connection with the incident and said, “The accused has been arrested under section 354C (voyeurism) of IPC and statements have been recorded. There is no footage on the phone. However, it will be sent for forensic investigation.”

The accused boy - identified as one  Pintu Garia (22) from West Bengal who used to work in the canteen on a temporary basis and he had been hired by a private canteen contractor -- will be produced before a city court magistrate on Wednesday.

As a precautionary measure, the canteen was shut down immediately and it will be reopened only if it can be staffed exclusively by women.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the IIT-B said, “There was an attempt to violate the personal space of women residents of a hostel by an employee of the hostel night canteen, by climbing a pipe duct. Because of the alertness of the residents, the culprit was caught and handed over to the police.”

“The investigation, including cyber investigation, is being carried out by the Mumbai police. The institute, as per the initial report, is not aware of any footage being shared from the phones confiscated from the culprit,” the statement said.

“The canteen has been shut down immediately, and will reopen, only if staffed exclusively by women.  Gaps in the ducts, which may have been used by the suspects, have been closed,” the statement said.

“We are in discussions with the students to see what other additional steps we can take. IIT Bombay stands with its students and we will do everything in our capacity to ensure the safety and security of our students,” the statement added.

Incidentally, the incident at IIT-B has come to light amid protests being witnessed on the Chandigarh University campus at Mohali over the alleged rumours that went around during hat a hostel inmate allegedly recorded objectionable videos of several students.

A woman, who had allegedly shared a video of herself with a friend in Himachal Pradesh, has been arrested. The police, however, said no other objectionable videos were found with her.