Mumbai Court Denies Bail to Man in Livestream Harassment Case

A Mumbai special court has refused bail to a 24-year-old man accused of sexually harassing a woman and her minor daughter via a live-streaming platform. The court expressed concerns over possible intimidation of victims and the accused's history of evading arrest, noting the seriousness of the charges.

A special court in Mumbai has rejected bail for a man, aged 24, charged with sexually harassing a woman and her minor daughter on a live-streaming app. The court underscored potential risks of victim intimidation if bail was granted, given the man's prior attempts to flee.

Judge S N Sachdeo delivered the decision, citing concerns that the accused might escape and exert pressure on the victims. He has been charged under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for sexual harassment and the POCSO Act. The prosecution alleged the man and others shared obscene content, targeting a 34-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter, with defamatory actions on a live-stream.

The police suggested that the defendant used offensive language and showed inappropriate material while streaming. When confronted by the woman, one of the co-accused verbally abused her and ended their call. The defense argued that the charges were minor, punishable by up to three years, but the prosecution maintained the accused was a flight risk with serious coordinated offenses.

Ultimately, the court concluded that the accused's history of dodging arrest and the severity of the coordinated harassment pose substantial concerns about his release possibly leading to pressuring witnesses.