Namma Metro guard allegedly 'masturbating' on camera was 'scratching his groin'

The action by the BMRCL came after a video widely shared on social media on Wednesday showed the unidentified guard touching his private parts and purportedly masturbating, apparently looking at a female passenger on the other platform at the Jalahalli metro station in northern Bengaluru.

Bengaluru: A security guard caught on camera "masturbating" in front of commuters at a metro station was likely "misunderstood" because he has itchy skin and was "uncontrollably" scratching his groin area at the time, a senior official in the BMRCL said.

However, considering the gravity of the allegation, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has suspended the unidentified guard and launched an investigation.

"Any action detrimental to safety and security of women passengers, BMRCL has a zero-tolerance policy (sic)," it said in a statement.

The action by the BMRCL came after a video widely shared on social media on Wednesday showed the unidentified guard touching his private parts and purportedly masturbating, apparently looking at a female passenger on the other platform at the Jalahalli metro station.

The woman said the guard "was continuously staring at me (and) simultaneously making some gestures".

A BMRCL official in the know said that while the woman was justified in raising the issue, she likely "misunderstood" the guard.

"He has itchy skin and is on medication. It looks like he felt a strong urge to scratch his groin area at the time. He is also squint-eyed, which is medically certified. So when he started scratching his groin area and looked onwards, the woman on the other platform thought he was staring at her," the official told DH, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The official suggested inconsistencies in the timeline of the incident. While it occurred around 10 am, the woman's complaint mentioned 2.30 pm, the official said.

The woman suggested that the BMRCL didn’t take action on her complaint. The official said the authorities needed time to verify the video and since the incident occurred on a Sunday (March 17), there was some delay.

"When we get a complaint, we send it to the department concerned for verification. Only then can we take action," the the official said.

The guard will be sacked if the inquiry finds him guilty, according to the official.