‘Boys Locker room incident’ Petition filed for CBI/SIT probe

Ukkash F | Sastra School of Law, Tamil Nadu | 11th May 2020

DEV ASHISH DUBEY Vs GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS

FACTS OF THE PETITION

A Public Interest Litigation is filed before the Delhi HC seeking an appropriate writ to direct the appropriate authorities to get the matter of the Instagram group boys locker room to be investigated by the Special Investigation Team & the Central Bureau of Investigation. The people who are in the group has involved in Sharing photos of underage women followed by lurid discussions on their bodies. The group was also allegedly used to share nude/morphed photographs of the women.

Moreover, after the chat has went viral, users of the group allegedly deactivated their social media profiles and also allegedly threatened to leak nude photos and hack accounts of the women who had outed them. 

GROUNDS

1. After the issue came in light, they have openly threatened the girls who are calling them out with dire consequences, which show that these girls might face threat such as raped, gang-raped, tortured etc.
2. Morphing photos and sharing images of people’s private parts is a violation of Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, as well as Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code.
3. Section 507 of IPC holds these students punishable for 2 years threatening a woman by any kind of anonymous communication which is also intimidating. Further Section 509 of IPC for posting sexual pictures or remarks or videos including sexual insinuations on social media.
4.  Section 503 of IPC states 2 years of imprisonment for threatening a woman by either alarming or malign her reputation and Section 499 of IPC states 2 years of imprisonment for defaming a woman online.
5. The action of these students shows the mindset of the young generation towards the girls and taking this issue in consideration will keep things on check.
6. The entire issue needs to be investigated by the SIT or CBI as these students belongs to high profile families and there is an apprehension that the investigation or enquiry conducted by the local police will be influenced.
7. The crime has been conducted against the minor girls which will attract the POCSO act, 2012.

CONCLUSION

The issue of Boys locker room has created a huge controversy and it has made people angry on how young teenagers objectify women and minor girls. This issue is something which should be taken into consideration. Since the issue is related to the offence committed against the girls and women by the group members of Instagram group named as “Bois Locker Room”, which was created by school students mainly stating in South Delhi. Hence the Petitioner herein the PIL was filed by the petitioner.