Surat police on Monday arrested a 30-year-old cleaning staffer of a restaurant after he allegedly placed his mobile phone on the ventilation window of the women’s washroom in recording mode.
The accused, identified as Surendra Rana, a native of Jharkhand, had been working at K Charcoal restaurant in Piplod for the past three years.
Customer Spots Hidden Phone
The incident came to light when a woman guest noticed something unusual on the restroom’s ventilation window. On climbing the commode, she found a mobile phone secretly recording. The footage also captured Rana placing the phone, police said.
Restaurant staff later identified him from the video, but Rana fled the spot. He was tracked down and arrested by Umra police within hours.
Police Investigation
Based on the woman’s complaint, police registered an offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 77 (voyeurism) and 79 (acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman), along with provisions of the Information Technology Act.
Inspector J. A. Rathwa of Umra police said Rana lived in Surat with his younger brother, also a restaurant employee, while his wife and children reside in Jharkhand. “We found five video clips of the same washroom on his phone. The device used for filming had no SIM card; videos were being transferred to another phone he regularly used. Both phones have been seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis,” Rathwa said. Pornographic material was also found on his second device, he added.
Restaurant Responds
Following the incident, K Charcoal restaurant issued a press release condemning the act. “We are deeply shocked and saddened. This act goes against the trust and values we stand for. The management, owners, and even our families use the same facilities. We are fully cooperating with police,” the statement read.
The management further announced a fresh verification drive of all 50 employees, despite earlier police verification, and said the restaurant would remain temporarily closed until new safety measures are in place. “The privacy and safety of our guests is our highest priority, and we promise to rebuild your trust with stronger safeguards,” it stated.