Yoga instructor in Bengaluru accused of sexually harassing teen in Thailand; probe on

Bengaluru: In a shocking incident, a teenager has accused her yoga instructor of sexually harassing her when she went to Thailand in 2023 to participate in a yoga competition, police said.

The accused, hailing from Assam, is the Secretary of the Karnataka Yogasana Sports Association (KYSA).

According to the police complaint, "The victim had known the accused since 2019. She started participating in yoga competitions in 2021. The girl went to Thailand with the accused to participate in a competition when she was 17 years old, and the accused sexually harassed her. After this incident, the victim stopped participating in yoga competitions."

"In 2024, the victim joined a yoga institute in Bengaluru, which was run by the accused. Since then, the accused has been sexually harassing her. The accused also promised that he would help her win a medal in a national yoga competition and get her a job placement. He then sexually exploited her on the premises of the yoga institute in August 2025," he added.

The accused allegedly tried to get physically intimate with the victim on August 22, promising her a placement in a state-level competition, police said.

Based on her complaint filed on August 30, an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 12 of the POCSO Act.

During the investigation, police found that the yoga instructor was involved in the sexual assault of 10 to 15 women who attended his classes. His mobile phone has been seized, and a video linked to the crime has also been recovered. IANS