Flipkart Delivery Agent Arrested For Sexual Harassment After Barging Into Bengaluru Woman's Flat

A delivery agent working with e-commerce platform Flipkart has been arrested in Bengaluru after a woman accused him of forcing his way into her flat and exposing himself to her, after he had asked to use her washroom during a delivery.

The accused has been identified as Vijay Mallikarjun Kamath. Acting on the woman's complaint, the Marathahalli Police Station registered a case against him under Sections 75, 79 and 329(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (corresponding to 354-A, 509 and 442 of IPC), provisions dealing with sexual harassment, insulting a woman's modesty through word or gesture, and house-trespass.

DCP Whitefield confirmed the arrest in an official statement, saying that swift legal action had followed the complaint. "A case has been registered at Marathahalli Police Station following a complaint by a woman alleging sexual harassment by a Flipkart delivery agent, identified as Vijay Mallikarjun Kamath. Based on her complaint, police registered case under Sections 75, 79, and 329(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)," the DCP said. "The accused has been arrested, and legal action has been initiated against him. Further investigation into the matter is underway."

According to the woman's own account, shared in a social media post that first brought the incident to public attention, the delivery agent had come to her home to hand over a parcel when he asked if he could use her washroom. She said she turned down the request more than once, telling him that she did not let strangers into her house and suggesting instead that he approach her male neighbours if he urgently needed help.

The woman alleged that her objections were disregarded. She claimed the man took off his slippers and walked into her flat without her consent, despite her repeated refusals. She further alleged that once he emerged from the washroom, he exposed himself to her, an act that left her, in her words, shocked, violated and unsafe inside her own home.

In her post, the woman argued that a clear "no" should have been enough to end the interaction, and that nobody has the right to override another person's boundaries or step into their home uninvited, regardless of the circumstances. She also described the precautions she took as the situation unfolded, saying she switched on her phone camera, left her front door open, and stayed close to the entrance, fearing she might need to run outside and call for help if things escalated further.

Responding after the incident drew widespread attention online, Flipkart issued a statement distancing itself from the accused and assuring the customer of support. "We are deeply disturbed by the incident and are extending our full support to the customer. Customer safety is non-negotiable," the company said, adding that it had terminated the delivery partner's engagement as soon as it learned of the matter.

The company said an FIR had been registered and that it remained committed to cooperating with investigating authorities. It also pointed to its existing safeguards, stating that all delivery partners are subjected to background verification and mandatory training before they are allowed to take up assignments. "While incidents of this nature are extremely rare, even a single such incident is unacceptable," Flipkart said, adding that it was reviewing the episode to see whether its customer safety processes needed to be strengthened further.

The case adds to a string of similar complaints against gig-economy delivery personnel across Indian cities in recent years, reviving concerns over the adequacy of background checks and safety protocols used by e-commerce and delivery platforms before onboarding agents who gain direct access to customers' homes. Such incidents have repeatedly triggered public debate on whether verification systems for delivery staff are stringent enough, and whether platforms need greater accountability for last-mile personnel.

Police said further investigation into the incident, including recording of additional statements and collection of evidence, is currently underway. No further official details about the accused's remand have been made public so far.

Inputs from TOI