According to the airport police, the woman was in the process of completing immigration formalities before boarding a flight to South Korea when a security alert beeped during a routine check. The accused, identified as Affan Ahmed (25), who was working as ground staff at the airport, allegedly used the alert as a pretext to take the woman aside for further checking.
Police said Ahmed led the woman to a men’s restroom under the guise of conducting a security check. Inside, he allegedly touched her inappropriately, including her private parts, and forcibly hugged her. Despite the woman protesting and resisting, the accused continued his actions before abruptly ending the check, saying “okay, thank you,” and leaving the area.
The woman later approached airport security officials and lodged a complaint detailing the incident. Following her complaint, airport authorities reviewed CCTV footage from the terminal, which corroborated her account, police said. The footage reportedly showed the accused escorting the woman away from the public area and later leaving the spot alone.
Based on the complaint and video evidence, the airport police detained Ahmed and registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with sexual assault and abuse of authority. He was subsequently arrested and is being questioned further to determine whether there were any procedural lapses or if others were complicit.
Airport officials said the accused has been suspended from duty with immediate effect. “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards such acts. The safety and dignity of passengers are paramount, and we are fully cooperating with the police investigation,” an airport official said, adding that internal checks are being conducted to review security protocols.
The incident has raised serious concerns about passenger safety, particularly for foreign nationals, and the misuse of authority by airport personnel. Police said the victim has been provided necessary support and assistance, including coordination with her country’s consulate if required.
Investigators are also examining whether existing security procedures were violated and if additional safeguards are needed to prevent such incidents in restricted airport areas. Further action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation, police said.
