Rajasthan High Court Grants Bail to Youth With Condition of 3-Year Social Media Ban

Jaipur, September 18 (Patrika English News): The Rajasthan High Court has granted bail to a 19-year-old youth accused of editing and uploading photos and videos of a 23-year-old married woman on social media, on the condition that he will not use any social media platform for the next three years.

Justice Ashok Kumar Jain’s single bench passed the order while allowing the accused’s second bail application. The court also directed that the accused must not tamper with evidence or contact the victim or her family, either directly or indirectly.

Bail Conditions Imposed

The court made it clear that the accused will:

• Submit an affidavit stating he does not possess any photos or videos of the victim or her family, and if he has any, they must be permanently destroyed before release.

• Not share any messages, images, or videos related to the victim or her family on WhatsApp, Telegram, or any other messaging platforms.

• Not use social media, either in his own name or under a fictitious name, during the bail period.

The bench warned that any violation of these conditions would result in cancellation of bail.

Arguments in Court

Defence counsel Girish Khandelwal argued that the petitioner had been falsely implicated, had no criminal history, and posed no flight risk. He further stated that the charge sheet had been filed and the victim’s statements recorded, ensuring that the accused could not interfere in the case.

The government counsel opposed the bail, stating that the accused had uploaded photos and videos of the victim from a fake Instagram account and that the victim had lodged an FIR at Hindaun Sadar police station on February 21. It was also alleged that the accused attempted to disturb the woman’s marital life.

After hearing both sides, the High Court ordered the release of the accused on conditional bail.