A B.Tech. student at Gudlavalleru Engineering College in Andhra Pradesh has been arrested on charges of hiding a camera in the women's hostel washroom and selling over 300 illicit videos of the students, officials said.
The revelation has sparked significant outrage among students and the local community. Female students discovered the concealed camera in the washroom on Aug 29 evening, prompting immediate alarm and distress.
This led to a fervent protest starting around 7 pm. The campus was abuzz with chants of "We want justice" as students demanded answers and accountability for the breach.
The police have arrested Vijay Kumar, a final-year BTech student from the boys' hostel, in connection with the incident.
His laptop has been confiscated for further investigation. Reports indicate that over 300 photos and videos from the women's washroom were leaked, with some students reportedly purchasing these videos from Vijay.
The presence of the hidden camera and the leak of sensitive footage have deeply unsettled many female students, who now feel anxious and uncomfortable using the washroom facilities.
Some have even been avoiding the area altogether. The police are continuing their investigation to determine if other students were involved in setting up the camera or distributing the footage.
In response to the protests triggered by the incident, the Telugu Desam Party announced that Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed an inquiry into the matter.
“The Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into the concern of the students about the presence of hidden cameras in the hostel. He has ordered the District Collector and SP to go to the spot immediately along with District Minister, Kollu Ravindra,” a rough translation of the party’s post in regional language suggested.
The party’s General Secretary and the Chief Minister’s son, Nara Lokesh, in an X post said, “I asked the authorities for details about the protest of female students at Gudlavalleru Engineering College of Krishna District. I have ordered an inquiry into the allegations of hidden cameras.”
“Strict action will be taken against the culprits and those responsible if it is found that they have committed a mistake in the investigation. Managers should take early steps without ragging and harassment in colleges,” he added.
“The Gudlavalleru Engineering College incident involving spy cameras in a women's hostel is highly deplorable and a severe breach of privacy. Such incidents demand urgent and strict action. The police must thoroughly investigate and bring the culprits to justice,” said former police officer V V Lakshmi Narayana in a post on X.
“Additionally, like the legislation in UP, there is a need for new laws to regulate social media and digital platforms, ensuring that such violations are prevented and swiftly punished,” he added.
Earlier this month, customers at a famous coffee shop in Bengaluru discovered a phone hidden in the women's washroom dustbin to record videos. The incident was brought to light by a content creator who said she found the camera in the bag, which had a hole in it and was constantly recording a video.
