The controversy over alleged harassment inside a Namma Metro train has taken a new turn after social media influencer Soumika reportedly got a huge number of followers on Instagram and introduced a paid subscription option on her account. She had earlier posted a video alleging that an unidentified man was secretly recording women passengers in a metro train and harassing them.
Her video went viral all over social media, and people supported her. But now she is reported to have introduced a Rs 399 paid Instagram subscription option, which has angered some netizens who are asking whether the incident is being used for social media popularity.
Soumika was travelling in a Whitefield-bound metro train when she alleged that an unidentified man sitting inside the same metro coach had secretly been recording videos of women on his mobile phone. She says she saw him doing this and suspected he was recording her and other female passengers without their consent too.
She also said that he was recording women and sharing them inappropriately. When Soumika saw suspicious activity, she ran towards the individual and took his mobile phone from him. She informed metro security personnel when the train reached the station and handed over the phone to them.
However, things escalated when the man denied recording any videos. He allegedly said he hadn’t done anything wrong and that the mobile phone had his personal details on it. Soumika said the man then took back his phone and ran away. The influencer filmed all this on her mobile phone and posted it online, where it soon went viral as people talked about women's safety on public transport and protecting female passengers from unwanted photography/video recording.
Soumika then went to Kadugodi Police Station and lodged a complaint against the man. The police then investigated the case and checked CCTV footage in metro stations to identify and trace the person involved. Santhosh K.T., 35, was the accused. He allegedly got anticipatory bail from court, fearing arrest and appeared before police for questioning.
During interrogation, Santhosh denied allegations, saying that he had not recorded any woman’s video. Allegations and circumstances leading to the incident are being probed by police.
Meanwhile, the viral video also grabbed a lot of attention for Soumika’s Instagram account. The figures quoted in reports said that before she posted the video, her account had about 5,000 followers, and within 24 hours of posting the video, it reportedly increased to around 27,000 followers. That’s more than a fivefold increase in social media following in one day. That sudden rise in followers showed how quickly an issue can be made public when it concerns the safety of people (public safety or women).
But the latest development has sparked a new debate on social media. After her followers increased, Soumika reportedly turned on Instagram’s paid subscription feature on her account. If you want to see subscriber-only content from her, then you have to pay Rs 399 (information is doing rounds online).
In BANGALORE METRO INCIDENT the girl has subscription guys that too 399rs per month All this was really a true incident or a fake publicity stunt to gain followers?? https://t.co/Fb2MZQqIQ4
— RED DRAGON (@likith62515191) October 30, 2026
Some social media users questioned the timing of the subscription launch. Several netizens reportedly accused her of trying to monetise attention generated by the metro incident. Some even called it a publicity stunt to increase her popularity, but none of these claims can be substantiated.
The paid subscription development has polarised social media. Some users have questioned the decision and criticised the influencer; others say gaining followers and launching a subscription service don’t invalidate complaints about alleged harassment. Two issues need to be looked at separately (especially since the police investigation into the original incident is yet to establish all facts). Someone monetising social media content does not mean that an earlier allegation was made up.
The incident has again brought women’s safety in Bengaluru's public transport system into focus. Unwanted photography, secret recording and circulation of personal images without consent are serious issues that need to be investigated properly. CCTV examination and police inquiry are important to know what actually happened inside the metro train. Soumika’s social media popularity is rising after the viral video, but we should not lose sight of the facts of the alleged incident and passenger safety. Controversy over her Rs 399 subscription continues on Instagram as well.
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