A 24-year-old Muslim delivery worker was arrested by Bengaluru City Police after CCTV footage showing him sexually assaulting a cow on a roadside in Akkipete surfaced on social media and spread widely online.
The accused has been identified as Shabaz Alam, who had been staying in the Cottonpet area for the last one month and was working as a delivery partner in the city.
Incident came to light after video went viral
The incident had taken place earlier on 5th May at around 1:47 am on Akkipet Cross Road, which falls under the Cottonpet police station limits. However, it remained unnoticed until 17th May, when a social media account named “GarudEyeIntel/Defence Intel” posted the CCTV footage on X and tagged Bengaluru Police while demanding action.
After the post gained attention, Cottonpet police registered a suo motu case against an unidentified person and began an investigation.
CCTV footage helped police trace accused
According to police, the CCTV video showed the man arriving at the spot on a two-wheeler. He was seen waiting near a cow that was sleeping on the roadside and looking around until the area became empty. Police said he then carried out the act and left the spot.
A man was arrested for "sexually assaulting" a cow that was sleeping on a roadside in Bengaluru after a video of the incident recently went viral, police said on Wednesday, April 20.
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) May 20, 2026
The 24-year-old accused, whose identity has not been disclosed by police, was working as a… pic.twitter.com/ImcFdRgmrW
The surveillance and monitoring unit of Cottonpet police checked the footage, confirmed the location and started tracking the suspect using CCTV cameras from nearby areas along with other technical evidence.
The investigation later led police to Shabaz Alam, who was taken into custody within hours after the case was registered.
Case registered under animal cruelty law and BNS
Police said the accused had no previous criminal record but showed perverted behaviour during the investigation. Officers also said he confessed during questioning.
A case was filed against him under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to unnatural sexual acts and cruelty towards animals.
Alam was presented before a court, which sent him to judicial custody on Monday. Further investigation in the case is continuing.
