MR B K DIGANTH vs STATE BY KARNATAKA
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- 1 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
TH
DATED THIS THE 27 DAY OF APRIL, 2026
R
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 5218 OF 2026
BETWEEN:
MR. B.K.DIGANTH
S/O SRI B.V.KUMARASWAMY
AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS
R/AT NO.14, THIGALARAPALYA MAIN ROAD
KALIKANAGAR, KARI OBANAHALLI
BENGALURU – 560 058.
…PETITIONER
(BY SRI S.R.SREEPRASAD, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. STATE BY KARNATAKA
BY BANASHANKARI POLICE STATION
BENGALURU CITY
REPRESENTED BY THE LEARNED SPP
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
BENGALURU – 560 001.
2. B.SHIVASHANKAR
PSI, BANASHANKARI POLICE STATION
BANASHANKARI, BENGALURU – 560 070.
…RESPONDENTS
Digitally
signed by
SANJEEVINI J
KARISHETTY
Location:
High Court of
Karnataka
(BY SMT. SOWMYA R, HCGP)
THIS CRL.P IS FILED U/S.528 BNSS PRAYING TO QUASH
THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN C.C.NO.47469/2025 ON THE
FILE OF THE II ADDL CJM BENGALURU FOR THE OFFENCE
- 2 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
P/U/S/ 78(2), 238(C) OF BNS AND 67 OF IT ACT, INITIATED BY
St
THE 1 RESPONDENT BANASHANKARI P.S.,
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
ORAL ORDER
The petitioner/sole accused is before the Court calling in
question proceedings in C.C.No.47469 of 2025 registered for
offences punishable under Sections 67 of the Information
Technology Act, 2008 and Sections 78(2) and 238(c) of the
BNS.
2. Heard Sri S. R. Sreeprasad, learned counsel appearing
for petitioner and Smt Sowmya R., learned High Court
Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
3. Facts, in brief, germane are as follows: -
nd st
The 2 respondent, 1 informant/the Police Sub-
Inspector attached to Banashankari Police Station registers a
suo motu complaint, on the score that while he was checking
- 3 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
social media website, he is said to have found an Instagram
account by name ‘Metro_Chicks’ , where he came across
unknown persons having followed women travelling in Metro
trains, have taken pictures and videos of all parts of the body
and uploaded them on the aforesaid Instagram page. He is said
to have found specific 14 obscene videos which led to
registration of the crime in Crime No.171 of 2025 for offences
punishable as afore-quoted. The said jurisdictional Police
conduct investigation and file a charge sheet against the
petitioner. Filing of the charge sheet is what has driven the
petitioner to this Court in the subject petition.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would
vehemently contend that all the allegations found in the
complaint or in the charge sheet are so bald and vague that
they cannot be remotely attributed to the petitioner. The
witnesses were all stock witnesses and no credibility could be
attached to those witnesses. He would submit that the charge
sheet be quashed and the petition be allowed.
5. Per-contra, the learned High Court Government
Pleader would vehemently refute the submissions in contending
- 4 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
that the allegations against the petitioner are grave. They
undoubtedly result in outraging the modesty of the women.
Therefore, it is for the petitioner to come out clean in a full-
blown trial.
6. I have given my anxious consideration to the
submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have
perused the material on record.
7. The facts, though disturbing in content, lie in a
nd
narrow compass. The 2 respondent, Police Sub-Inspector
attached to Banashankari Police Station, upon casually perusing
a social media platform, stumbled upon an Instagram page
called ‘Metro_Chicks’ . What began as a routine scroll, soon
unfolded into a grave concern. The page, as noticed by him,
contained images and videos depicting women traveling
in metro trains – clandestinely followed, surreptitiously
recorded and their bodily privacy egregiously violated.
14 such obscene videos, stark in their impropriety ,
compelled the registration of a suo motu complaint, culminating
in Crime No.171 of 2025. The complaint reads as follows:
,
“ರವ ೆ
- 5 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
,
ಾ ಾ
ಾಗಳ
,
ಬನಶಂಕ ೕ ಾ ೆ
.
ೆಂಗಳರು ನಗರ
,
ಇಂದ
,
ೕ ಸ ಇ !ೆಕ"#
,
ಬನಶಂಕ ೕ ಾ ೆ
.
ೆಂಗಳರು ನಗರ
:-
$ಷಯ ನಮ( )ೊ,ೕದ - ಸಂಚ ಸುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರ ಮತು2 )ೊ,
34ಾ5ಣದ - ನ7ೆದು ೊಂಡು 9ೋಗು:2ರುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರನು;
,
/ಂ ಾ< ೊಂಡು 9ೋ= ಮ/0ೆಯರ >ೇಹದ @ಾಗಗಳನು;
metro_chicks (Bangalore
$ABೕ C:,ೕಕರಣ DಾA
Metro Clicks)
ಎಂಬ ಇFಾ G ಾ,H JಾKೆಯ - ಹ ಯLM"ರುವ
.
ಬ ೆN ದೂರು
*
)ೕಲPಂಡ $ಷಯ ೆP ಸಂಬಂ
<ದಂKೆ DಾನQ )ೕ4ಾ
ಾಗಳ ಆ>ೇಶದಂKೆ
-
ಆಪTೇಶ <ಂಧೂ# ಬ ೆN ಮತು2 TಾಜWೕಯ ಪXಗಳ ಬ ೆN 9ಾಗೂ Yಾ: ಧಮZಗಳ ಬ ೆN
,
WA ೇAಗಳ ಅವ9ೇಳನ ಾ $ABೕಗಳನು; ಸೃ]"< ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣಗಳ -
,
ಹ ಯLಟು" ಾನೂನು ಮತು2 ಸುವQವ^ೆa ೆ ಧ ೆP ತರು:2ದು5 ಈ ಬ ೆN ಮುFೆ;ಚc ೆ
ಕ,ಮdಾ= ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣಗಳನು; $ೕe< ಈ ಬ ೆN fಾವg>ೇ $ABೕಗಳ
ಹ ಯLM"ರುವgದು ಕಂಡು ಬಂದ - ಕೂಡ4ೇ ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ" ವQW2ಗಳ $ರುದh ಾನೂನು
ಕ,ಮ ೈೊಳjವಂKೆ Dೌlಕdಾ= ಆ>ೇಶ DಾAದ5ರ )ೕTೆ ೆ Fಾನು ಪ,: mನದಂKೆ
:-20-05-2025 07-00
ಈ mವಸ mFಾಂಕ ರಂದು ಸಂYೆ ಸುDಾರು ಗಂ*ೆಯ
ಸಮಯದ - ಾ ೆಯ- ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣಗಳನು; $ೕe< ಪ nೕಲFೆ Dಾಡು:2>ಾ5ಗ
metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro Clicks) (URL ID:
ಇ ^ಾ"ಾ,Hನ-
https://www.instagram.com/metro_chicks?igsh=bGhzZ214c
JಾKೆಯ -
zd0NDdu )
ಎಂಬ JಾKೆಯ - ಅಪ Cತ ವQW2ಗಳ ೆಂಗಳರು ನಗರದ ನಮ(
)ೊ,ದ - ಸಂಚ ಸುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರ ಮತು2 )ೊ, 34ಾ5ಣದ - ನ7ೆದು ೊಂಡು
9ೋಗು:2ರುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರನು; /ಂ ಾ< ೊಂಡು 9ೋ= ಮ/0ೆಯರ >ೇಹದ
- 6 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
,
ಮುಂ@ಾಗ /ಂ@ಾಗ ಮತು2 ಮ/0ೆಯರು ನ7ೆದು ೊಂಡು 9ೋಗು:2>ಾ5ಗ /ಂ@ಾಗದ
metro_chicks
@ಾಗಗಳನು; $ABೕ C:,ೕಕರಣ DಾA ಈ $ABೕಗಳನು; ಎಂಬ
. 14
JಾKೆಯ - ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುವgದು ಕಂಡು ಬಂmರುತ2>ೆ ಈ JಾKೆಯ - ಒಟು"
.
$ABೕಗಳನು; ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುKಾ2Tೆ ಈ JಾKೆಯ - ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುವ
14 URL ID
$ABೕಗಳ ಈ PɼÀPÀAqÀAwgÀÄvÀÛªÉ.
1)https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJwjg2ezxt_/?igsh=MTRwdDlxZ2x1bnR2Ng=
2) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJweSXFz69N/?igsh=MXV1czdjaGw2NHBpa w==
3) https://www.instagram.com/reel/D.JtVCf4zl_9/?igsh=MWRtNzFtMW9nZWNrag==
4) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJtQxJ3zbwQ/?igsh=bWx6NGJla2U4dnhu
5) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJpT5THz1Sv/?igsh=MWF0Nmw3a3Y3bXo3bw==
6) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJhJqHuzO-h/?igsh=YzhvMmwxM2Rodjly
7) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJW1muUTVBg/?igsh=OGk0Z2Fveng5bjU1
8)https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJTrLgGTjpn/?igsh=dWpl:Z31nM2Z4dmli
9) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJHSEQ-Thja/?igsh=azVidXdxdH10c3Y2
10) https://www.instagram.com/reel/D13-TPoTtt7/?igsh=MnByMHRnYzRoajRt
11) https://www.instagram.com/reel/D11cgWGTaJ3/?igsh=MTY3d2VuMDZ2am85dQ=
=
12)https:////www.instagram.com/p/DIlclYWTVKq/?igsh=MTh6Z20wYzlmdTc0bw==
13)https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIZC-2UzfeB/?igsh=MW9mY29xNWw1b3Q3OQ==
14) https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIS6DZrTilT/?igsh=ZGZmdHMwcDl4bDd6
.
ಆ=ರುತ2dೆ
ಮ/0ೆಯರ >ೇಹದ @ಾಗಗಳನು; ^ೆTೆ/Aದು ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣdಾದ
metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro Clicks)
ಇ ^ಾ" ಾ,H JಾKೆ ನ -
ಹ ಯLಟು" ಮ/0ೆಯರ ೌರವ ೆP ಧ ೆP ತಂದು ಾನೂನು ಉಲ-ಂಘFೆ DಾAರುವ
.
ಆTೋtಗಳ $ರುದh ಸೂಕ2 ಾನೂನು ಕ,ಮ ಜರು=ಸ ೇ ೆಂದು ೋ ೊಳjKೆ2ೕFೆ
ಇದTೊಂm ೆ )ೕಲPಂಡ JಾKೆಯ - $ABೕಗಳನು; ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುವ ಬ ೆN
.”
¹Ìçà uಾv ಅನು; ಈ ನನ; ವರmBಂm ೆ ಲಗ:2<ರುKೆ2ೕFೆ
- 7 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
The Police conduct investigation and draws the petitioner into
the web of proceedings, as the sole accused. The summary of
the charge sheet as obtaining in column No.17 reads as
follows:
.
“17
ೇ<ನ ಸಂeಪ2 ^ಾTಾಂಶ
12 2024
ಈ >ೋwಾTೋಪ ಾ ಪM"ಯ ಅಂಕಣ ರ - ನಮೂm<ರುವ ಆTೋtಯು Fೇ
Redmi Note 10 Pro
ಇಸ$ ಆಗ " :ಂಗಳ - ಆತ3ಂದ ಅDಾನತು2ಪA< ೊಂಡ
-
x ೈy zೕ ಮತು2 ತನ; 9ೆಸ ನ-ರುವ _ )ೕy
: [email protected]
ಐA ಅನು; ಉಪBೕ=< ೊಂಡು ^ಾDಾ_ಕ
metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro Clicks)
YಾಲKಾಣdಾದ ಇFಾ G ಾ,H ನ -
(URLID: https://www.instagram.com/metro_chicks?igsh=bGhzZ214cz
d0NDdu) .
ಎಂಬ 9ೆಸ ನ- JಾKೆಯನು; KೆTೆmರುKಾ2Fೆ
metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro
ಆTೋtಯು Kಾನು KೆTೆmದ5
Clicks) (Follow)
ಎಂಬ ಇFಾ G ಾ,H JಾKೆಯನು; ºÉaÑ£À ಜನರು |ಾ4ೋ Dಾಡುವ
ಉ>ೆ5ೕಶmಂದ ಮತು2 Kಾನು JಾKೆಯ - ಅo 4ೋp Dಾಡುವ $ABೕಗ} ೆ ಅ:ೕ
(Likes & Comments)
9ೆಚುc 4ೈ~ 9ಾಗೂ ಕ)ಂv ಗಳ ಬರ ೇ ೆಂಬ
ಉ>ೆ5ೕಶmಂದ )*ೊ, 34ಾ5ಣಗಳ - ನ7ೆದು ೊಂಡು 9ೋಗುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರನು;
/ಂ ಾ< ೊಂಡು 9ೋ= ೌಪQdಾ= ಆ ಮ/0ೆಯರ >ೇಹದ Jಾಸ= ಅಂ ಾಂಗಗಳನು;
ೇಂm,ೕಕ< ಅಸಭQdಾ= $ABೕ C:,ೕಕರಣ DಾA ೊಂAರುKಾ2Fೆ ಮತು2 )*ೊ,ೕ
Tೈ ನ- ಸಂಚ ಸುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರ ಅಂ ಾಂಗಗಳನು; ೇಂm,ೕಕ< ಅಸಭQdಾ=
.
$ABೕ C:,ೕಕರಣ DಾA ೊಂAರುKಾ2Fೆ
ಆTೋtಯು ೌಪQdಾ= ಮ/0ೆಯರ >ೇಹದ Jಾಸ= ಅಂ ಾಂಗಗಳನು;
ೇಂm,ೕಕ< ಅಸಭQdಾ= $ABೕ C:,ೕಕರಣ DಾA ೊಂAದ5 $ೕABೕಗಳನು;
, metro_chicks
ಅಕ,ಮdಾ= ತನ; ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣdಾದ ಇ ^ಾ" ಾ,H ನ -
(Bangalore Metro Clicks) (URL
ID: https://www.instagram.com/metro_chicks?igsh=bGhzZ214czd0N
Ddu) 14
ಎಂಬ JಾKೆಯ - $$ಧ mFಾಂಕಗಳಂದು ಒಟು" $$ಧ $dಾmತ
- 8 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
&
$ABೕಗಳನು; ಅo 4ೋp DಾA ಹಲdಾರು ಜನ ಮ/0ೆಯ ಘನKೆ Dಾನ ೆP
ಕುಂದುಂಟು DಾAರುವgದು ತ3Jಾ ಾಲದ- ಸಂಗ,/<ದ ^ಾ€ಾ•ಾರಗ}ಂದ
.
ದೃಢಪM"ರುತ2>ೆ
12
ಆದ5 ಂದ ಈ >ೋwಾTೋಪ ೆ ಪM"ಯ ಅಂಕಣ ರ - ನಮೂm<ರುವ
5(i) ,
ಆTೋtಯು ಾಲಂ ರ - ನಮೂm<ರುವ ಾƒ5 ಮತು2 ಕಲಂಗಳ ಅನ„ಯ
n€ಾಹZFೆಂದು ಈ >ೋwಾTೋಪ ೆ ಪM"ಯನು; Dಾನ FಾQfಾಲಯ ೆP
.”
3dೇm< ೊಂAರುತ2>ೆ
The complaint when read alongside the charge sheet,
paints a disquieting picture. Women commuting in the
anonymity of public transport were subjected to covert
surveillance; their images and videos captured without
consent, focusing upon various parts of their bodies and
thereafter, disseminated in public digital platform for
voyeuristic consumption. The investigation, as reflected in
the charge sheet, reveals that the petitioner’s mobile device
contain further incriminating material of a similar nature,
reinforcing the allegations.
8. When these materials are read in juxtaposition,
they disclose not a trivial lapse, but a pattern of conduct
that if proved, bespeaks a calculated intrusion into the
- 9 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
privacy and dignity of unsuspecting women. Such acts,
cloaked under the guise of anonymity in crowded places
cannot be countenanced.
9. The offence alleged under Section 78 of the BNS reads
as follows:
| “78. Stalking.—(1) Any man who— | |
|---|---|
| (i) follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to | |
| contact such woman to foster personal | |
| interaction repeatedly despite a clear | |
| indication of disinterest by such woman; or | |
| (ii) monitors the use by a woman of the internet, e- | |
| mail or any other form of electronic | |
| communication, | |
| commits the offence of stalking: | |
| Provided that such conduct shall not amount to | |
| stalking if the man who pursued it proves that— | |
| (i) it was pursued for the purpose of preventing or | |
| detecting crime and the man accused of stalking | |
| had been entrusted with the responsibility of | |
| prevention and detection of crime by the State; or | |
| (ii) it was pursued under any law or to comply with any | |
| condition or requirement imposed by any person | |
| under any law; or | |
| (iii) in the particular circumstances such conduct was | |
| reasonable and justified. | |
| (2) Whoever commits the offence of stalking | |
| shall be punished on first conviction with | |
| imprisonment of either description for a term which | |
| may extend to three years, and shall also be liable |
- 10 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
| to fine; and be punished on a second or subsequent | |
|---|---|
| conviction, with imprisonment of either description | |
| for a term which may extend to five years, and shall | |
| also be liable to fine.” | |
| (Emphasis supplied) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 78 of the BNS which addresses the offence of stalking | ||||
| is not without foundation. The act of following women, | ||||
| monitoring them and recording their images without | ||||
| consent, falls squarely within the mischief sought to be | ||||
| curbed by the provision. | ||||
| 10. The other offence alleged is Section 67 of the | ||||
| Information Technology Act. It reads as follows: | ||||
| “67. Punishment for publishing or | ||||
| transmitting obscene material in electronic form | .— | |||
| Whoever publishes or transmits or causes to be published | ||||
| or transmitted in the electronic form, any material which | ||||
| is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest or if its | ||||
| effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons | ||||
| who are likely, having regard to all relevant | ||||
| circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained | ||||
| or embodied in it, shall be punished on first conviction | ||||
| with imprisonment of either description for a term which | ||||
| may extend to three years and with fine which may | ||||
| extend to five lakh rupees and in the event of second or | ||||
| subsequent conviction with imprisonment of either | ||||
| description for a term which may extend to five years and | ||||
| also with fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees.” | ||||
| Section 67 proscribes the publication or transmission of | ||||
| obscene material in electronic form, the offence gets |
- 11 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
clearly attracted when such content is disseminated on social
media platforms.
11. The argument that the allegations are vague does not
merit acceptance. The materials collected during investigation
disclose sufficient prima facie grounds to proceed. To interdict
the proceedings, at this juncture, would not merely truncate
the course of justice, but may also embolden similar
transgressions, thereby imperilling the safety and
dignity of women, in public places. This Court cannot
remain oblivious to the larger societal implications.
Public transport must remain a place of safety and
dignity, not one of silent fear and exploitation. To quash
the proceedings, in the face of such allegations, would be to
place a premium on conduct that corrodes the very fabric of
civilized society.
12. For the aforesaid reasons, finding no merit in the
petition, the petition stands dismissed.
- 12 -
NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
It is made clear that the observations made during the
course of this order are only for the purpose of consideration of
the case of the petitoner under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. and
the same would not bind or influence the further proceedings
before the concerned Court.
Consequently, I.A.No.1 of 2026 also stands disposed.
SD/-
(M.NAGAPRASANNA)
JUDGE
bkp
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 90