Pimpri-Chinchwad City Police on Tuesday arrested the man captured in a viral video inappropriately hugging South Korean vlogger Kelly in a market on the outskirts of Pune. The arrest came after the video went viral on social media, with users urging legal action against the alleged harasser.
In the video, Kelly can be seen interacting with locals, offering 'Namaste' greetings, when an unidentified man forcefully grabs and wraps his arm around her neck. Another man joins in, and the first one instructs him to stay closer, saying, "Don't stand so far. Hold her like this." Despite Kelly's attempts to distance herself, the man persists making her visibly uncomfortable. The vlogger comments in the video, "I have to run from here… They really like to hug."
Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey confirmed that the incident occurred in Ravet, on the outskirts of the city. Following public outcry and a probe, the suspect was detained, and an FIR is in the process of being registered against him.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone 2), Kakasaheb Dole, stated, "An offence is being registered against this person based on a suo motu complaint. Once the FIR is registered, we can share more details."
The incident gained attention after Kelly posted the video on her YouTube channel titled "Walking on the Street in India Alone as a Solo Woman Traveler." She cautioned viewers about encountering unpleasant individuals while saying not to generalise the actions of a few to the entire Indian population.
Kelly, with over 1.69 lakh subscribers, has become a popular solo woman traveler sharing her experiences on the video-sharing platform.
Earlier, a man was arrested last year from Mumbai for harassing another South Korean vlogger.