05-07-2025
Sharing obscene pictures can destroy lives: Allahabad high court
Prayagraj: Refusing to grant bail to a man accused of circulating obscene photographs of a woman on WhatsApp, the Allahabad high court observed that when such images were shared on public platforms, they had potential to "destroy lives".
"Digital technology is altering the face of crime. Indecent pictures of individuals circulated on public platforms through social media can destroy lives. This is the hard social reality," a bench of Justice Ajay Bhanot said while passing the above order as observations.
The accused, booked under various sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, was arrested in Jan this year on allegations of circulating the victim's private images on WhatsApp.
He had moved high court after his bail plea was rejected by trial court in Apr 2025.
Taking into account allegations against him, court noted that since some images had been recovered from him and were pending forensic examination, there was likelihood of his involvement in the crime.
Court refused to grant bail, while highlighting growing menace of digital crimes and their catastrophic social impact, directed district judge to take weekly reports of progress of trial in the case.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Further, the concerned deputy director, forensic science laboratory, was also directed to ensure FSL report was produced before trial court within two months.
Though the court in its order dated Jun 2 dismissed the bail plea, it emphasised need for expeditious trial and directed trial court to preferably conclude proceedings within one year.
In 2023, the same bench had observed that circulation of indecent videos on social media was a major menace and had stressed that in such cases, police authorities must ensure highest proficiency while conducting probes. Importantly, court had also opined that quality of investigations of UP Police in such matters was "very weak".
