In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has dismissed a bail application filed by an accused charged with circulating indecent photographs of a woman via WhatsApp.

Emphasizing the dangers posed by digital technology when misused, the Court underscored that such acts can have devastating consequences for victims, particularly when content is shared on public platforms.

In Ramdev vs. State of U.P. (Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 19176 of 2025), the prosecution alleged that the applicant had shared indecent images of the victim on WhatsApp. Several photographs were recovered and sent for forensic analysis. The accused was booked under Sections 74, 352, 351(2), 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act.

After the trial court rejected his bail plea, the applicant approached the High Court seeking regular bail.

Justice Ajay Bhanot, while refusing bail, observed that the alleged offence was grave and had severe implications for the victim’s dignity and privacy. The Court remarked:

“Digital technology is altering the face of crime. Indecent pictures of a person, when circulated on public platforms by social media, can destroy lives. This is the hard social reality.”

The Court added that such offences must be met with legal accountability and that the trial should proceed in a time-bound manner.

Directions Issued

• The Deputy Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was directed to submit the forensic report related to the images within two months.

• The trial court was instructed to conduct the proceedings expeditiously.

• The Court also raised concerns about systemic delays caused by non-service of summons and lack of coercive measures by law enforcement, stating that such lapses severely impact justice delivery.

The Court relied on its previous rulings in Bhanwar Singh @ Karamvir vs. State of U.P. and Jitendra v. State of U.P., reinforcing the importance of timely trial processes and effective execution of court directions.

Conclusion

The bail application was accordingly dismissed, with the Court urging strict adherence to judicial timelines in cases involving digital offences that threaten individual dignity.