Mumbai, March 4, 2022 – Additional Sessions Judge Sanjashree J. Gharat of the City Civil and Sessions Court in Greater Bombay has rejected the bail application of Kumari Shweta Singh, an accused in the “Bulli Bai” app case. The app, hosted on the GitHub platform, sparked outrage for allegedly “auctioning” photographs of Muslim women without their consent.
Singh was arrested in connection with C.R. No. 1 of 2022 registered with the Western Cyber Cell (BKC) Police Station. The charges against her include promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc. (Sections 153-A and 153-B of the Indian Penal Code), deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings (Section 295-A), insulting the modesty of women (Section 509), defamation (Section 500), stalking (Section 354-D), and publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form (Section 67 of the Information Technology Act).
The case originated when a woman filed a complaint stating that her photograph had been uploaded on the “Bulli Bai” app without her consent. Investigations revealed that the app allegedly targeted Muslim women active on social media, with photographs of over 100 women being uploaded for a virtual “auction.”
Singh, in her bail application, claimed she was falsely implicated and had cooperated with the police. She argued that she was merely a follower of the app and not involved in its creation. She also raised concerns about the impact of her detention on her marriage prospects and emphasized her right to freedom of speech and expression.
The prosecution, however, opposed bail, stating that Singh had technical knowledge and was active on social media, operating multiple Twitter, Instagram, and email accounts, including those on ProtonMail, known for its encryption features. They also alleged that she was a member of online groups with a “common mindset” and used to post provocative content. The prosecution further revealed that Singh was a member of the “Trad Mahasabha” group, where the idea for the “Bulli Bai” app allegedly originated.
Judge Gharat, in her order, acknowledged that the app’s alleged creator, Niraj Bishnoi, had been arrested by the Delhi Police and that the Mumbai police were seeking his custody. However, she emphasized that the investigation was still ongoing and that Singh’s role could not be separated from the other accused at this stage.
The court also highlighted that Singh and her co-accused had attempted to portray the app as being created by the Sikh community by changing their Twitter handles to names associated with Sikhism. This, the court noted, was done to target the Sikh community for the illegal acts.
“The largest interest of society is at stake. As a result, at this stage, the prayer of Accused for release on bail can’t be granted,” Judge Gharat stated in her order.
The court ultimately rejected Singh’s bail application, citing the ongoing investigation, the possibility of evidence tampering, and the seriousness of the offenses, which involved defaming women and inciting communal disharmony. This decision underscores the court’s commitment to protecting the interests of society and ensuring a fair trial.