The Bengaluru police have arrested a 37-year-old private company employee for allegedly sexually harassing a 24-year-old woman and seeking sexual favours after entering her room at a co-living paying guest facility in Whitefield, east Bengaluru.
According to the woman, an analyst at a private bank, Sai Babu Chennuru, who also resides in the same PG accommodation, rang her doorbell around 3 a.m. on September 16 and entered her room.
“He locked the door, pulled out a knife he had brought, and stabbed me in the back,” the woman told the police. She further alleged that Sai Babu disrobed her, took her photographs, and sexually harassed her.
The suspect then allegedly forced her to give him ₹70,000 and later transferred ₹14,000 from her Google Pay account.
Sai Babu reportedly left after threatening to share her pictures with her family and friends if she revealed the incident to anyone. Later, the victim’s friend helped her reach a hospital, where doctors sent a medico-legal report to the police.
Following the complaint, Whitefield police recorded her statement and filed an FIR against Sai Babu. He has been booked under BNS sections related to attempt to murder, extortion, assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty, sexual harassment, and criminal trespass.
Sai Babu, however, also filed a complaint claiming that he had been in a relationship with the woman for two months. He alleged that they argued on September 3 around 3 a.m., and the following morning, two men from the PG management, Shiva and Pradeep, assaulted him for quarrelling with the complainant.
A police officer investigating the case told The Hindu that the suspect’s phone has been seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
“We are examining the claims of both complainants. While Sai Babu has been arrested, we will soon get clarity in the case, as he insists they were in a relationship,” the officer said.
Published – September 19, 2025 09:31 pm IST
