CBI arrests Odisha man for uploading sex video on WhatsApp

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Mar 23:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday had a major success when it arrested a builder based in the Odisha capital for circulating a sex video on social networking platforms.

The builder, identified as Kalia Sahu of VSS Nagar here, had allegedly made an MMS of him having sex with his receptionist and then circulated it on various platforms including WhatsApp, sources in the CBI said.

After running from pillar to post in her quest for injustice, the woman had approached an NGO which, in turn, had approached the Supreme Court.

It may be noted that on March 13, the Supreme Court had come down hard on the Union Home ministry and governments of several states, including Odisha, for their failure to apprehend the person who had uploaded the videos on social networking platforms like WhatsApp.

A social bench of the apex court comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit had even imposed a fine of Rs 50, 000 on the Odisha government for its failure to depute a lawyer for the hearing of the case.

In its order, the bench asked the Director General of Police (DGPs) of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal and Delhi Police Commissioner to cooperate with the CBI in catching the culprits in the case. It had also asked CBI to file a status report giving details of the probe conducted by it on the next date of hearing.

The apex court had taken strong exception to the alleged inaction by the Union government even though 20 days had elapsed after a complaint relating to posting of two rape videos on WhatsApp was lodged and asked the CBI to apprehend the culprits who first uploaded them.

“Why you (Ministry of Home Affairs) did not act? You sat over it for over 20 days. You (ASG) please tell us what MHA has been doin,. the bench had said”

The remarks came after the apex court inquired about the action taken by the MHA, which was provided with all the information and rape videos on February 10.

The bench asked the CBI to “find out” the person who had uploaded the sexual assault videos for the first time. The court was informed by the probe agency that it had lodged eight FIRs and one preliminary inquiry into the incident.

“You (CBI) must come hard and pounce upon the person who first uploaded the videos for pleasure of somebody. If you do not catch him, then such incidents will keep happening,” it said.

Besides, the bench then asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, who appeared for MHA and the CBI, to find out as to whether it was possible to catch the person saying, “We are sorry, this should have been done in February itself.”

The apex court had taken suo motu note of the letter on posting of two rape videos on WhatsApp and had asked CBI to launch a probe to nab the culprits immediately.