The Allahabad High Court recently flagged concerns about the devastating consequences digital crimes may have on the lives of their victims, particularly in cases where indecent images of individuals are circulated on social media [Ramdev v. State of UP].
A Bench of Justice Ajay Bhanot noted that the rise of digital technology has altered the face of crime.
"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," he said.
The Court made the observation while rejecting a bail application filed by a man who was booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), along with Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The accused was arrested in January 2025 for allegedly circulating a woman's private images through WhatsApp. He approached the High Court after the trial court rejected his bail application in April 2025.
The High Court upheld the trial court's decision to reject the bail plea after noting that certain images had been recovered from the accused man's possession and were awaiting forensic analysis, indicating his possible involvement in the offence.
"The FSL report is awaited. The offence is grave. There is likelihood that the applicant had committed the offence. At this stage, no case for bail is made out," the Court held.
However, in the interest of justice and considering the nature of the offence, the Court also issued directions to ensure that the trial in the case is concluded as soon as possible.
"The trial court has also to be conscious of the rights of the accused persons and is under obligation of law to ensure that all expeditious, necessary and coercive measures as per law are adopted to ensure the presence of witnesses. Counsels or parties who delay or impede the proceedings should not only be discouraged from doing so but in appropriate cases exemplary costs should also be imposed on such parties/ counsel," it said.
The Court pointed out that in earlier cases, it has already issued directions to ensure that summons issued to accused or witnesses in trials are effectively executed, and to prevent delays that may take place during trials due to lawyers' strikes. The Court called for compliance with these directions to ensure that the trial is not delayed.
The High Court added that the district judge should monitor the trial's progress in this case.
"The learned District Judge is directed to take weekly reports of the progress of the trial ... Without going into the merits of the case, the bail application is dismissed ... The trial judge shall submit a fortnightly report on the progress of trial and the steps taken to comply with this order to the learned District Judge," the Court directed.
Advocates Satyam Mishra and Shailendra Singh appeared for the bail applicant/ accused.
[Read Order]