Indian minister complains of 'secret' CCTV in women's changing room

Minister Smriti Irani was at a shop when she was informed about the camera by a sales assistants


Web Desk April 04, 2015
PHOTO: TWITTER

Indian Police investigated a complaint made by a federal government minister about a closed-circuit TV looking into a changing room where she was trying on clothes. 

According to police officer Nilesh Rane, Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani was in the store on Friday when she was informed about the camera by one of the sales assistants. The camera was reportedly aimed through the changing room's ventilator.

Read: Sexual harassment: A work in progress

Popular with tourists, the store is in the beach village of Candolim. On the condition of anonymity, a police officer said that the camera was found to be recording customers inside the room.

Rane said some arrests were likely to be made on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman, for which a maximum prison sentence of two years can be handed.

Michael Lobo, a state lawmaker belonging to Irani’s governing Bharatiya Janta Party, told reporters that the camera had recorded footage of “women changing clothes over the past three to four months”.

Read: Protection of women: More committees formed for harassment at workplace

This was not the only instance in which complaints of hidden cameras in changing rooms was made. Complaints were apparently pouring in from across the country. "Not just this boutique. All stores with such a facility must be investigated," Durgadas Kamat, the spokesperson for the opposition Congress party, demanded.

This article originally appeared on Associated Press

COMMENTS (6)

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @Ibby: Thanks. Very useful comment indeed.
Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @someone: Agree ! Your comment on privacy is fair. What about the comment shouted at a female minister by no other than a parliamentarian. I am not attempting to draw any comparison here ....we know ethical and moral values are practiced at different levels and in different shades in different countries but to see that a representative of the so called largest democracy in the world can stoop so low. Unfortunately these democracies can choose ministers who have very little education and even elevate those with blood-stained hands to the position of a prime minister.
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