The Allahabad High Court has denied bail to a man accused of sharing a woman’s indecent images via WhatsApp. The accused faces charges under Sections 74, 352, 351(2), 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67A of the IT Act, 2000. Arrested in January 2025, he approached the High Court after the trial court rejected his bail plea in April. Justice Ajay Bhanot observed that digital technology is changing crime patterns and highlighted that sharing such content can ruin lives. The court noted that some images were recovered from the accused and are awaiting forensic examination, indicating his likely involvement. Emphasizing the dangers of cybercrime, the court refused bail but stressed the need for a speedy trial. It directed the trial court to conclude the case within a year. The District Judge must submit weekly progress reports, and the FSL report must be submitted within two months.
In earlier rulings, the bench criticized the poor quality of UP Police investigations in cybercrime cases and warned against the rising trend of circulating indecent content online, calling it a serious threat to society.
