Hyderabad: Women haunted by rising instances of video recordings on the sly

HYDERABAD: Sathvika (name changed) was walking down the food street at the IT Park in Raidurg with her friend, unaware that she was being recorded by a stranger. Suddenly, a woman rushed up to her and warned her of the man recording her.

Sathvika told Deccan Chronicle, “This woman, who informed me, first noticed the man smiling while on a phone, which she presumed was a video call. Then she noticed him recording my back and informed me.”

“I saw him. I was extremely nervous and embarrassed and wanted to leave the place and forget about it. But, later, I did not want my videos to be shared and reached out to the SHE team for help.” Police said she only wanted the video to be deleted. The police ensured that this was done, counselled the culprit and let him go his way.

Her is not an isolated case. There are many Sathvikas out on the streets being stalked in this manner. A recent report stating that certain AI programmes can be used to ‘strip’ women in the videos is making matters worse.

In 2024, the women’s safety wing registered 35 such cases of men clandestinely recording women, of which 26 were instances of recording on the phone in a public place, and nine through hidden cameras in certain premises.

In July, the city police station recorded a case where a man was recording a minor girl, his neighbour, taking a bath. The minor’s brother caught the man in the act and reached out to the police. The case is under trial.

Speaking of the nature of the crime, women’s safety wing DGP Shikha Goel said, “Such crimes happen in two ways — one in a public space where the woman is unaware that her movements are being recorded, and the other being with a hidden camera, like in a changing room or a hotel room.”

“The victim should approach either the local police station or SHE team. One way is to report it through dial 100, where SHE teams would be notified immediately or go to the respective police station to register a case,” DGP Goel said.

On the nature of cases that are booked, the Hyderabad women’s safety wing DCP Dara Kavitha said that SHE teams were usually present in certain public places - like markets, bus stops - and more often than not come across men recording videos of women.

“We try to catch the culprit red-handed and check their phone immediately. Most of the time, there is a video and a petty case is booked against them and they are produced before the court. The accused gets three to four days jail. He is counselled and released,” the DCP said.

“However, the nature of the crime differs. If the recording contains nudity or for that matter is recorded showing a woman in a questionable position, the culprit is convicted with a jail term based on the gravity of the crime,” Kavitha said.

Narrating one such incident, Kavitha said, “At a tiffin centre in Chaderghat last month, a few men were recording a video of college girls. It was not questionable, but it is still wrong to record someone without their consent. SHE teams were present there.” The phones of the men were checked and petty cases were booked against them.

Irrespective of whether the victim is a minor or not, a case is booked if the SHE team spots someone recording them. Even if the victim does not raise a complaint, cases are registered if there is evidence.

However, what has been a major bottleneck in getting conviction in most cases is reluctance of the victim to see through the legal process, fearing societal stigma if such cases get publicised. Kavitha said.

“In most cases registered with us, women ask for nothing more than deletion of the video or image. If further investigation is carried out, they would have to come to the police station or appear before the court, which is why most women do not come forward with a complaint, though we protect their identity.”