Bengaluru groping incident: Accused tracked Down in Kerala; had escaped with girlfriend's help

In a dramatic turn of events, Bengaluru police have arrested a man (Santosh) accused of sexually assaulting a young woman in Sadduguntepalya, after he went on the run for 10 days. The accused, identified as Santosh, had escaped to Kerala after touching the woman's private parts in a disturbing late-night incident.

Also Read: ‘Such incidents happen in big cities’: Karnataka Home Minister on groping incident in Bengaluru

A former driver in Bengaluru, Santosh had befriended a man from Kerala during his earlier stint. After committing the crime, he fled to his friend’s place in Kerala, using a KA05 KQ 1251 bike. Meanwhile, the police began a rigorous investigation, scanning CCTV footage and tracking his mobile number.

Crucially, Santosh was aided by his girlfriend, a former home guard, who not only alerted him to police movements but also purchased a new SIM card to avoid detection. She then fled with him to Kerala by bus.

The breakthrough came when she called her mother using the new number. Police traced the call, tracked their location, and found the couple staying in an AC lodge room in Kozhikode.

Santosh, who already had a prior theft case registered against him at Jayanagar police station, is now in custody along with his accomplice. The police have confirmed both are being interrogated, and further legal action is underway.

Incidentally, it is in relation to this case that Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara had said such things ‘happen in big cities’. He later apologised for the statement.