In a jaw-dropping breach of privacy at a massive women's hostel in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, a 22-year-old Tata Electronics employee named S Neelu Kumari Gupta from Odisha was arrested on Wednesday for secretly installing a spy camera in the bathroom. The twisted plot unfolded when Gupta, allegedly under duress from a mysterious boyfriend in another state, planted the device first in her own bathroom on Sunday morning before sneaking it into the shared facilities of a neighboring room occupied by a 21-year-old coworker from Maharashtra.
The scheme unraveled dramatically when the Maharashtra native returned from her bath to find Gupta suspiciously re-entering the bathroom. This odd behavior sparked immediate alarm among the other residents, leading to a confrontation where Gupta reportedly broke down and confessed everything. Word spread like wildfire through the hostel, prompting an internal inquiry by Tata Electronics management that dragged on from Sunday evening until Tuesday.
Frustration boiled over as nearly 1,500 furious women employees—many of whom work grueling shifts at the nearby Tata plant—staged a massive protest on Tuesday evening outside Vidiyal Residency in Nagamangalam village. The facility, a sprawling complex with 11 blocks housing around 6,500 female workers (nine blocks dedicated solely to them), became a scene of chaos. Protesters demanded the immediate arrest of Gupta and her elusive accomplice, while slamming the company for alleged security lapses that left them vulnerable in their own living quarters.
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Krishnagiri Superintendent of Police P Thangadurai and Hosur Sub-Collector Aakriti Sethi arrived with a heavy police contingent of about 150 officers to calm the crowd, promising a no-stone-unturned investigation. By Wednesday, Gupta was formally booked under stringent laws including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 77 and 126(2), Section 9 of the Women Harassment Act, and key provisions of the Information Technology Act. During intense interrogation, she revealed a chilling backstory: her interstate lover had coerced her into the act by threatening to leak intimate personal photos if she refused. Gupta claimed she recorded a video but insisted it was never sent to him—police are verifying this as they hunt for the absconding man, whose identity remains shrouded in secrecy.
In a sweeping response, authorities launched exhaustive searches across all hostel rooms starting Tuesday night and continuing into Wednesday afternoon. Tata Electronics reportedly brought in a specialized expert team on Wednesday to scan for any additional hidden cameras, highlighting growing concerns over potential wider surveillance risks in employee accommodations. A dedicated five-member police squad has been assembled under SP Thangadurai to track down the fugitive boyfriend and uncover any deeper conspiracy.
The incident has ignited broader questions about workplace safety for thousands of women migrating to industrial hubs like Krishnagiri for jobs at giants like Tata. Krishnagiri Collector C Dinesh Kumar has vowed to probe why the company delayed notifying police and district officials despite being informed by the block warden on Sunday. As the manhunt intensifies and protests echo demands for systemic reforms, this scandal serves as a stark wake-up call for enhanced security protocols in corporate hostels nationwide. More updates as the investigation unfolds—stay tuned for the full exposure!
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