The Cottonpet Police arrested a 24-year-old delivery executive for allegedly sexually assaulting a cow sitting on a roadside at Akkipete in Bengaluru.

The incident, which occurred on May 5, came to light after CCTV footage of the act went viral on social media, triggering public outrage and demands for strict action against the accused.

Police said a suo motu case was registered on Sunday (May 17), following which investigators tracked down the accused using CCTV footage and technical evidence.

Police trace accused

According to the complaint filed by a police sub-inspector attached to the surveillance and monitoring unit at Cottonpet Police Station, the incident came to light on May 17 after a user on X posted a video alleging that a man had sexually assaulted a cow in Bengaluru and sought immediate action from the police.

The video, which was verified by the police, showed that the incident occurred around 1.47 a.m. on May 5 in Akkipete within Cottonpet police station limits. The footage allegedly showed a man arriving on a two-wheeler, stopping near a cow lying on the roadside and waiting until the area was deserted before committing an unnatural sexual act with the animal.

Based on the video evidence, police identified the location as Akkipete Galli Road and launched an investigation to trace the accused and initiate legal action.

No prior criminal background

The accused has been identified as Shabaz Alam, a delivery executive who had been residing in Cottonpet for the past one month. During investigation, police found that the accused had no prior criminal background.

Police said he has been booked under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The accused was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody on Monday.