'Should You Be Spared?': Karnataka High Court Declines To Quash FIR Against Airport Staff Booked For Sexually Harassing Korean Woman
The Karnataka High Court on Monday (April 06) refused to quash a criminal case registered against an airport staff accused of sexually harassing a south Korean national at the Kempegowda International Airport, and strongly disapproved of the officer's conduct.
“…She is a woman of another nation. She has described what all you did. Why did you take her to a gent's toilet?...”, Justice M Nagaprasanna orally asked the counsel appearing for the petitioner who had moved the high court challenging the proceedings.
The High Court noted that as per the complaint, the airport staff from a private firm took the south Korean woman to the washroom, made her stand in T position there, and touched her inappropriately without her consent.
“What kind of officer you are?.. Should you be spared? tell me...and the justification is that there was someone else in the ladies' washroom?”, the court orally remarked.
The court, therefore, dismissed the plea filed by the male staff to quash the criminal case registered against him at BIAL Police Station.
A detailed copy of the order is awaited.
According to the complaint, the south Korean national had entered Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda international airport on 19th January to leave for her own country. After clearing the immigration check, a male airport staff had allegedly approached her citing an issue with her check in baggage.
In the guise of checking the woman in person, the staff allegedly took her to the washroom, touched her inappropriately and sexually harassed her.
The police registered Crime No: 3/2026 for the offence punishable under Section 75(1)(i) of BNS, 2023 [physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures or a demand or request for sexual favours etc] . The case is currently pending before magistrate court.
Case Title: Mohammad Affaan Ahmed v. State of Karnataka & Anr.
Case No: CRL.P 3146/2026