Spycam and Smriti Irani row: Goa Police crack Fabindia voyeurism case

Panaji, Apr 11: A week after the hidden camera was detected by Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani at a Fabindia outlet near here, police today claimed to have identified the store staffer who was behind the voyeurism episode.

A police official said the accused staffer from Fabindia outlet at Candolim village shifted the position of a CCTV camera and pointed it towards the store's trial room, which was brought to light by Irani.

"We have identified the accused. He was one among those who were arrested immediately after an FIR was filed," Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Kartik Kashyap told PTI.

He, however, did not disclose his identity, saying investigations were still on. Another senior police official said police have zeroed in on Paresh Bhagat who had password of the DVR (Digital Video Recording) room of the outlet.

Irani, who was shopping at the leading ethnic apparel brand's outlet on April 3, had raised an alarm after she spotted a CCTV camera pointing towards the change room.

Calangute Police had filed an FIR against five employees of the outlet at Candolim. Kashyap said the accused staffer was caught on CCTV changing the direction of the camera soon after the Minister raised the alarm.

"He was seen changing the direction of the camera from changing room to other way when Irani complained," he said, adding there are incriminating evidence against the accused. Police have already interrogated the accused during their first round of investigations.

"Prima facie, we have found him to be involved. There are chances that more people may be linked with him," Kashyap said, declining to divulge further details.

The SP said the management of the company, too, should share the blame for the offence as the camera was installed one year back and it was not being monitored.

Police have already questioned seven top officials of Fabindia, including its Managing Director William Bissel and Managing Director Subrata Dutta.

Those named in the FIR have been booked under IPC Sections 354 C (voyeurism), 509 (intrusion into privacy) and also IT Act's Section 66E (capturing, publishing image of private area of any person without his/her consent).

PTI