Bengaluru Youth Kidnapped, Assaulted For Allegedly Sending Obscene Message

A college student in Bengaluru, Kushal, was kidnapped, stripped and assaulted by a group of eight men for allegedly sending obscene messages to a girl. The attackers were inspired by the recent Renukaswamy murder case linked to Kannada actor Darshan, according to police.

The incident took place on June 30 in Soladevanahalli, located in Bengaluru’s Nelamangala taluk. The victim was allegedly abducted in a car by the girl's friends and taken to a secluded spot on the city’s outskirts. According to police, Kushal was stripped and beaten, including on his private parts, while the group hurled threats at him, reported PTI.

The assaulters also recorded a video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media. The Soladevanahalli police acted on the viral video and registered a case. In the footage, the assailants are seen thrashing Kushal and mocking him by referring to the victim in the Darshan-linked case. “He is Renukaswamy, and we are accused number one, two, and three,” one of the men was heard saying in the video.

The assault was allegedly triggered after the girl received an obscene message from the victim and informed her friends about it. Enraged, the group allegedly plotted to teach him a lesson, leading to his abduction and violent assault.

“We have arrested all eight accused on charges of robbery and kidnapping,” a police officer told PTI. According to the police, all eight individuals directly involved in the assault have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing to identify any additional suspects who may have played a role in planning or facilitating the attack.