Shocker: Man 'flashes' in Kerala bus, misbehaves; woman films accused, uploads video on Instagram

News Summary:

• A man allegedly misbehaved with a woman on a KSRTC bus in Ernakulam district, Kerala.
• The accused, identified as Savad Shah, was apprehended after attempting to flee the scene.
• Nandita Sankara, the complainant, recorded the incident and uploaded the video on her Instagram account.
• Savad Shah was arrested and sent to 14 days of judicial custody.
• The incident has sparked public outrage, leading to calls for improved safety measures and stricter punishment for perpetrators of harassment.

Kochi (Kerala): A man has been arrested for allegedly flashing in a Kerala state road transport corporation (KSRTC) bus in Ernakulam district and misbehaving with a woman passenger, police said on Thursday. The accused was produced in a court in Ernakulam and sent to 14 days of Judicial custody, they said.

The Incident and Complaint

The alleged incident, which took place on Tuesday, came to light after Nandita Sankara, a native of Thrissur district, lodged a complaint and shared the purported videos of the alleged incident on her Instagram account. In the video, Nandita alleged that the accused had "unzipped his pants" and was "masturbating" while travelling in a KSRTC bus.

Identity of the Accused and Location of the Incident

The accused has been identified as Savad Shah (27), a native of Kozhikode. The incident happened at Athani on the national highway in Ernakulam district. Nandita was going to Ernakulam for a movie shoot. Savad boarded this bus from Angamaly, police said.

Misbehavior and Confrontation

According to the police, the accused Savad was sitting between Nandita and another female passenger in a three-tier seat. "After the bus left Angamaly, the accused started misbehaving with the woman. Initially, Nandita ignored it. After some time, Nandita got irritated when the accused attempted to misbehave with her," police said.

Escape and Capture

"When the bus stopped at the traffic signal in Athani, he jumped out and ran. The conductor tried to catch him but Savad Shah ran away. Locals and other travellers caught him later. He was later handed over to Nedumbassery police," they said.

Legal Proceedings and Public Outrage

In response to Nandita's complaint and the video evidence she provided, the police swiftly took action, arresting Savad Shah for his lewd behaviour and misconduct on the bus. Following his arrest, he was produced before the court in Ernakulam, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.

The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for greater safety measures and stricter punishment for perpetrators of such crimes. It serves as a reminder of the importance of creating a safe environment for women in public spaces and the need for vigilance in addressing incidents of harassment and assault.