A disturbing case involving the recording and circulation of obscene videos of women has triggered widespread outrage across Kodagu district. The Madikeri Rural Police have arrested a 21-year-old college student, Islamist Mohammad Sawad of Napoklu village, for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with multiple women, recording the acts on his mobile phone, and allowing the videos to circulate on social media platforms. The accused is a BBA student studying at a college in Bengaluru, police confirmed.
According to investigators, Sawad allegedly filmed intimate moments with different women on separate occasions, violating their dignity and privacy. As per TV9 Kannada reports, the visuals, which appear to be self-recorded, later surfaced on social media and spread rapidly, causing shock and anger among residents. The incident has once again highlighted the growing menace of digital sexual exploitation and the blatant disregard for women’s consent, security, and safety.
Hindu Janajagruthi Samithi leader Mohan Gowda also reacted to the incident on social media. In a post on X, he warned Hindu youth, especially young women, to remain alert, citing the Kodagu case as a serious example of sexual exploitation and misuse of trust. He said the incident highlights the need for greater awareness and vigilance to prevent such crimes.
The matter came to light after M. S. Prasanna Bhat, president of the Kodagu Development Committee, received the alleged video clips on his WhatsApp number on January 21 from a resident of Napoklu. Bhat subsequently lodged a formal complaint at the Madikeri Rural Police Station, alleging the circulation of obscene photos and videos involving a young man and women. Based on the complaint and preliminary verification, police identified the person seen in the videos as the accused student, Sawad.
As per the FIR, the videos depict the accused Islamist Sawad engaging in sexual acts with two different women at different times. The complainant further alleged that the same obscene content had been widely circulated across social media platforms. Police have registered a case under Sections 79 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 294 (sale and circulation of obscene material) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.
Adding to the tension, videos showing assaults on a few young men in connection with the incident have also surfaced online. While there are suspicions that these attacks may be linked to the fallout from the viral videos, the victims have not yet filed any formal complaints, police said. Authorities stated that all angles, including the source of circulation, possible accomplices, and any retaliatory violence, are being thoroughly investigated.
Karnataka has increasingly emerged as a hotspot for crimes such as alleged land jihad, love jihad, sexual exploitation, robberies, land grabbing, and repeated attacks on Hindu festivals. These developments raise serious questions about the effectiveness of the state’s police machinery, administrative officials, and governance. Recent incidents from different parts of Karnataka have exposed disturbing and varied patterns of crime, particularly those affecting Hindu communities. Under the present Congress-led state government, this trend has shocked many and sparked widespread concern across the state.
