A woman trying on a garment at the Big Bazaar store in Metropolis Mallcaught a housekeeping employee allegedly peeping into the trial room through holes in the wall, reigniting the debate on customer privacy being compromised at retail outlets.

The alleged Peeping Tom apparently bolted down the corridors and out of the store before any of the other shoppers, staff or security guards could catch him, police said of the incident on Wednesday evening.

The accused is Samir Adhikari, who the store clarified wasn't an employee of the Future Group that owns the Big Bazaar brand.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy for such issues. The person was not our employee but an outsourced staff (member) of the housekeeping agency. We have initiated a legal case against him and terminated his services.... We have started an investigation on the housekeeping agency as well and are in the process of terminating the contract with them," the company said.

The Big Bazaar store at Metropolis Mall in Hiland Park, off the Bypass, has two levels. The complainant had been changing in a trial room on the ground floor when she sensed something was wrong and opened the door to find holes on the shared wall with another trial room. She screamed even as the accused quickly exited the adjacent trial room and ran. He left his mobile phone behind while fleeing.

A mirror had been apparently removed from the wall but the holes created by the screws remained. "The woman spotted unusual movement through one of these holes and decided to check the next trial room, revealing the intrusion on her privacy," a police officer said.

Housekeeping worker Samir, who had allegedly been snooping on the customer from the other trial room, ran through the crowded store and was gone before most people realised what had happened.

"Someone did try to grab the fleeing man by his arm but he dodged the person and fled," said an officer at Survey Park police station, which is investigating the incident.

Trial rooms at malls, marts and standalone stores are mostly unisex, with plywood walls and doors. Allegations about hidden cameras in trial rooms are common, although stores insist they are strict about ensuring privacy.

Last year, the Goa outlet of a reputable retail chain stood accused of violating customer privacy after Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani spotted what she said was a hidden camera in one of the trial rooms.

In Calcutta, a woman lodged a police complaint against a water theme park in Rajarhat, alleging that a CCTV camera was concealed in one of the changing rooms.

Survey Park police station has started a case of voyeurism under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code against the absconding Samir. The maximum punishment is seven years in prison.

"We take full responsibility for the incident and stand by the customer during this time. A senior official of (the) Future Group has been in constant touch with the customer and keeping all channels transparent and open," the Future Group said.

A senior police officer not involved in the probe advised looking out for holes or objects protruding out of the ceiling or the walls before entering a trial room. "It is a little difficult to detect a hidden camera. Yet, any obvious unusualness should be reported immediately."