Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 6: Munsiff Reasi Aarti Devi has rejected the bail application of one Manjeet Singh, who had circulated obscene video of girl on social media.
After hearing both the sides, the court observed, “the prima facie accusation of offences alleged against accused person under Sections 354-D IPC. 66-E, 67-A. 67 IT is under investigation and same is at initial stage. Moreover, the accused is in police custody since 31-08-2022”.
“During the investigation, statements of some of the witnesses including the complainant are also recorded. Without commenting much on the merits of case and giving any finding on the truthness or falsity of allegation will amount to pre trial findings which is not permissible under law but the allegations are prima facie established which pertains not only to complainant but same has its wide impact on the society as a whole”, the court said.
“Especially, where technology is used as a tool of committing alleged crime and then in modern digital world same gets spread in public within no time and damage to a victim has already been done even before he or she got the knowledge of same as happened in present case”, Munsiff said, adding “this court can well understand the impact of the same on the mind of the girl and her family who must be feeling helpless and granting bail to the accused at such an initial stage will not only send the wrong message to society but also shake the confidence of the general public in the criminal justice system”.
“The investigation has just started which requires so much documentary evidence to be evaluated and scrutinized that too with the help of forensic expertise and the same consumes sometime and if the accused is released now then there is every likelihood of delay in investigation”, the court said, adding “such types of offences are more serious than even rape as here prestige of girl will get degraded in whole world and she will be made answerable to the whole society for the acts which was not even committed by her or we can also say that she has to prove her innocence for lifetime”.
With these observations, the court rejected the bail application.
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