Youth arrested for recording video at Bengaluru Airport's sensitive area

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A 23-year-old youth was arrested by the airport police for allegedly entering the restricted area at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and sharing a video on his YouTube channel alleging lapses in the airport security in Bengaluru.

The accused was identified as Vikas Gowda, who is said to have an online channel with 1.3 lakh subscribers.

The police said that he used to indulge in daredevilry acts and share those videos to gain views and followers on his channel.

Among 60 videos, one of the recently uploaded videos by the accused showed him walking inside a sensitive area of Terminal 2 on April 7.

The police, on Wednesday, said that the accused had deliberately booked one of the cheapest flights from Bengaluru to Chennai to claim that he is a genuine flyer.

However, instead of approaching the boarding gate, he entered into an unauthorized area and began recording videos.

The police further said that Gowda, in his video, bragged about him roaming inside the premises for about 24 hours, without getting into the notice of the security officials.

He wanted to prove the security lapses at the airport, the police added. The matter came to light when a user shared Gowda’s video and tagged it to the Bengaluru Police requesting them to take strict action against him.

The video had been shared on April 12 and had gone viral soon after. This specific video was shot by him inside Terminal 2 on April 7 and uploaded a few days later. It was immediately taken down after he was nabbed.

Following a complaint filed by Central Industrial Security Force Inspector Murali Lal Meena, an FIR has been booked against him under IPC sections 448 (Trespassing) and Sec 505 (Statements causing public mischief).

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru North East, Laxmi Prasad said, “Gowda has been arrested and his phone was seized,” he said.

The cop added that the action was completely unacceptable.

"There is no scope for mischief or fun inside a highly sensitive area like the airport. Hence, we will be taking strong legal action. Gowda has also proved to be a liar and has falsely claimed he was travelling. He has illegally entered spaces inside unauthorisedly using a ticket to create a wrong impression that the security inside an airport is not tight."

His video claims that he would stay inside the premises for 24 hours as proof finally leaves within 8 hours, the cop added. Further investigations are on.