M.P.Divya Sheshadri vs The Director General of Poli

Court
Madras High Court

WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 14-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K. GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI
WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011420822026}
AND
WMP CRL.(MD) No. 1244 of 2026
M.P.Divya Sheshadri ..Petitioner
Vs
1. The Director General of Police,
Office of Director General of Police,
State of Tamil Nadu,
Chennai - 600004.
2. The Superintendent of Police,
Cyber Crime Department,
Cyber Crime Cell,
Commissioner Office Campus,
Chennai - 600007.
3. The Commissioner of Police,
Trichy City,
Trichy.
4. The Inspector of Police,
All Women Police Station,
Srirangam,
Trichy.
5. Karuppu M.Muruganandam
6. Mahesh Raja
7. L.S.Balamurugan ..Respondents
PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents No.1 to
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
4 to take immediate action on the complaint of the petitioner dated
19.09.2026 and 21.09.2026 in connection with Crime No.32 of 2026 on
th
the file of the 4 respondent and to delete all the videos and defamatory
statements in the social media and pass such further or other orders as this
Court may deem fit.
For Petitioner: Mr.A.Arun Prasad
For Respondents: Mr.K.Suyambulinga Barathi
Additional Public Prosecutor
for R1 to R4
ORDER
According to the petitioner, her marriage was solemnised with one
Sheshadri and had be gotten two children. Due to matrimonial discord,
th
she developed intimacy with the 5 respondent and lived with him. She
thereafter filed a divorce petition against her husband before the Family
Court at Bangalore and the same is pending. After some time, she
th
realised that the 5 respondent's intention was only to grab money from
her to elevate his position, and thereafter refused to give money. Since
the petitioner is holding the post of OBC Secretary in a political party,
th
she made a complaint to the party on 12.09.2026 against the 5
respondent.
th
2. In order to tarnish her reputation in the public, the 5 respondent
th th
with connivance of the 6 and 7 respondents started to make false
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
defamatory and derogatory statements concerning her character through
social media. The respondents 5 to 7 have been publishing/circulating
such statements through Facebook/Whatsapp/Instagram/Youtube/X and
etc. and that went to the extent of circulating obscene video of a girl
taking bath saying that it was the petitioner and also made false allegation
with an intention of causing damage to her reputation and dignity and
portrait her in a false and derogatory manner before her relatives, friends
and to the public. In this regard, the petitioner lodged a complaint before
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the 4 respondent police and FIR was registered in Crime No. 32 of 2026
for the offences U/s. 69, 77, 318(2), 356, 351(3) of BNS Act, 2023 r/w.
Section 66E & 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
3. Since no action was taken against the said complaint, the
petitioner was constrained to file the present writ petition for a direction
to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take immediate action on the complaint
of the petitioner dated 19.09.2026 and 21.09.2026 in connection with
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Crime No. 32 of 2026 on the file of the 4 respondent and to delete all the
videos and defamatory statements in the social media.
4. The learned Government Advocate would submit that the
investigation is in progress and ensured that necessary steps would be
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
taken to remove the defamatory videos and statements from the social
media upon receipt of necessary details of the alleged social medias from
the petitioner.
5. Heard. Records perused.
6. The present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the
official respondents to take immediate action on the FIR in Crime No. 32
th
of 2026 on the file of 4 respondent and to delete all the videos and
defamatory statements in the social media.
7. The Right to Privacy and Dignity of an individual is protected
under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The unauthorised
publication or circulation of obscene or intimate images of a person,
without consent, may attract penal consequences under the applicable
law. The circulation of such material through social media can cause
serious and continuing harm to the victim. Therefore, complaints of this
nature require prompt and sensitive consideration by the law enforcement
authorities.
8. In view of the nature of the allegations, this Court is of the
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
considered view that the complaint of the petitioner requires to be dealt
with expeditiously and in accordance with law. The police authorities
shall not treat the matter as a mere private dispute, but shall examine the
allegations and take appropriate steps in accordance with the applicable
penal provisions.
9. Accordingly, the following directions are issued:
(i) The jurisdictional police shall consider the complaint lodged by
the petitioner, shall conduct a proper investigation, identify the social
media accounts and URLs through which the alleged photographs have
been uploaded or circulated, and take appropriate steps in accordance
with law to preserve relevant electronic evidence.
(ii) The police shall take necessary steps, in accordance with the
applicable law and procedure, direct the concerned social media
intermediaries to disable access to, remove or restrict the circulation of
the alleged obscene photographs within 24 hours from the time of receipt
of a copy of this order.
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(iii) The police shall investigate the role of the 5 respondent and
any other person found to be involved and take appropriate action as
expeditiously as possible in accordance with law.
(iv) The identity, privacy and dignity of the petitioner shall be
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
protected throughout the investigation. The authorities shall ensure that
the photographs or other intimate material are not unnecessarily
reproduced, disclosed or circulated during the course of the proceedings.
10. In the light of the above directions, this writ petition is disposed
of.
11. Post the matter on 27.10.2026 'for reporting compliance'.
14-10-2026
NCC : Yes/No
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes / No
mar/skn
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
To
1. The Director General of Police,
Office of Director General of Police,
State of Tamil Nadu,
Chennai - 600004.
2. The Superintendent of Police,
Cyber Crime Department,
Cyber Crime Cell,
Commissioner Office Campus,
Chennai - 600007.
3. The Commissioner of Police,
Trichy City,
Trichy.
4. The Inspector of Police,
All Women Police Station,
Srirangam,
Trichy.
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI J.
mar/skn
WP Crl.(MD) No. 5567 of 2026
AND
WMP CRL.(MD) No. 1244 of 2026
14-10-2026
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