MAPUSA: Opposing the bail applications of the four accused in the Union HRD minister Smriti Irani voyeurism case, the crime branch, in its written reply to the court in Mapusa, has alleged that the camera was focused intentionally in the Fabindia outlet at Candolim to capture images of women changing clothes in the trial room.

The investigating agency claimed that the management and staff of the store “intentionally focused the camera to capture the images (of women) while (they were) changing clothes and to view subsequently”.

It pointed out that the modesty of women who changed clothes in the trial room had been outraged and the act also intruded women’s privacy.

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“All the accused persons have positioned the camera at the secret vintage point and committed the act without the women knowing they are being watched,” states the reply.

It states that during investigation it has been revealed that the captured images were viewed by the accused and others.

The custodial interrogation of the accused was therefore sought “to know whether those images had been disseminated via email, WhatsApp, Facebook etc” and to find out the whereabouts of the store’s manager, who is absconding.

“This incident has secured national attention and created fear in the minds of women who have visited the store and used the trial room. Most of the accused persons are presently at large and only the custodial interrogation would reveal the names of those involved in the sensitive crimes against women,” the rely reads.

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The accused were also accused of an attempt to destroy evidence by “trying to shift the position of one of the cameras used in the commission of this offence”.

