An airport staff member has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a South Korean woman under the pretext of a security inspection at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.
According to the
Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) Police, the incident occurred on January 19, 2026, when the woman had arrived at the Bengaluru airport to travel to South Korea.
After completing immigration formalities, an airport staffer allegedly approached her under the guise of checking her flight ticket and check-in baggage.
In an official statement, KIAL Airport Police said, “An incident of sexual harassment of a South Korean woman under the pretext of inspection has been reported at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. An airport staffer named Affaann Ahmed has been arrested for sexually harassing a foreign woman who had come to the airport to travel to Korea.”
Police said the accused claimed that a beeping sound was coming from the woman’s bag during ticket inspection.
“During the ticket inspection, Affaann Ahmed said that a beeping sound was coming from the woman’s bag and asked her to be checked separately,” the police statement mentioned.
According to the FIR, the accused allegedly told the woman that if a detailed check was conducted at the counter, it could delay her flight.
He then reportedly took her near the men’s washroom area, stating that a personal check was required.
“He took the woman to the men’s toilet,” police said, adding that the act was carried out under the pretext of inspection.
The complaint further states that under the guise of a security check, the accused allegedly touched the woman inappropriately.
He is accused of touching her chest and private parts repeatedly, and later hugging her from behind without her consent.
When the woman resisted and objected to his actions, the accused reportedly said, “Okay, thank you,” and walked away from the spot.
The victim immediately approached airport security personnel and lodged a complaint.
Acting swiftly, airport security staff detained the accused and handed him over to the airport police.
“The woman complained to the airport security staff, who immediately detained the accused and handed him over to the airport police,” the police said.
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the airport premises, which they said corroborated the sequence of events described by the complainant.
“The CCTV footage confirmed the same,” the KIAL Airport Police noted in their statement.
Based on the woman’s complaint and the available evidence, the Kempegowda Airport Police registered a case against the accused under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to sexual harassment.
“The Kempegowda Airport Police have registered a case against the accused, and he has been arrested. Investigation is underway,” police said.
