Karnataka High Court
Mr B K Diganth vs State By Karnataka on 27 April, 2026
Author: M.Nagaprasanna
Bench: M.Nagaprasanna
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NC: 2026:KHC:23345
CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026
BEFORE
R
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
Digitally
signed by BENGALURU CITY
SANJEEVINI J REPRESENTED BY THE LEARNED SPP
KARISHETTY
Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
High Court of BENGALURU - 560 001.
Karnataka
2. B.SHIVASHANKAR
PSI, BANASHANKARI POLICE STATION
BANASHANKARI, BENGALURU - 560 070.
...RESPONDENTS
(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
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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
THE 1St 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: -
The 2nd respondent, 1st 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 narrow compass. The 2nd 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 ೕ ಾ ೆ, ೆಂಗಳ ರು ನಗರ.
ಇಂದ,
ೕ ಸ ಇ !ೆಕ"#,
ಬನಶಂಕ ೕ ಾ ೆ,
ೆಂಗಳ ರು ನಗರ.
$ಷಯ:- ನಮ( )*ೊ,ೕದ - ಸಂಚ ಸುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರ ಮತು2 )*ೊ, 34ಾ5ಣದ - ನ7ೆದು ೊಂಡು 9ೋಗು:2ರುವ ಮ/0ೆಯರನು; /ಂ ಾ < ೊಂಡು 9ೋ=, ಮ/0ೆಯರ >ೇಹದ @ಾಗಗಳನು;
$ABೕ C:,ೕಕರಣ DಾA metro_chicks (Bangalore 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 ೈ ೊಳ jವಂKೆ Dೌlಕdಾ= ಆ>ೇಶ DಾAದ5ರ )ೕTೆ ೆ Fಾನು ಪ,: mನದಂKೆ ಈ mವಸ mFಾಂಕ:-20-05-2025 ರಂದು ಸಂYೆ ಸುDಾರು 07-00 ಗಂ*ೆಯ ಸಮಯದ - ಾ ೆಯ - ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣಗಳನು; $ೕe< ಪ nೕಲFೆ Dಾಡು:2>ಾ5ಗ ಇ ^ಾ" ಾ,Hನ - metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro Clicks) (URL ID:
JಾKೆಯ - https://www.instagram.com/metro_chicks?igsh=bGhzZ214c zd0NDdu) ಎಂಬ JಾKೆಯ - ಅಪ Cತ ವQW2ಗಳ ೆಂಗಳ ರು 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 @ಾಗಗಳನು; $ABೕ C:,ೕಕರಣ DಾA ಈ $ABೕಗಳನು; metro_chicks ಎಂಬ JಾKೆಯ - ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುವgದು ಕಂಡು ಬಂmರುತ2>ೆ. ಈ JಾKೆಯ - ಒಟು" 14 $ABೕಗಳನು; ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುKಾ2Tೆ. ಈ JಾKೆಯ - ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುವ 14 $ABೕಗಳ URL ID 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 ಇ ^ಾ" ಾ,H JಾKೆ metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro Clicks) ನ - ಹ ಯLಟು" ಮ/0ೆಯರ ೌರವ ೆP ಧ ೆP ತಂದು ಾನೂನು ಉಲ-ಂಘFೆ DಾAರುವ ಆTೋtಗಳ $ರುದh ಸೂಕ2 ಾನೂನು ಕ,ಮ ಜರು=ಸ ೇ ೆಂದು ೋ ೊಳ jKೆ2ೕFೆ. ಇದTೊಂm ೆ )ೕಲPಂಡ JಾKೆಯ - $ABೕಗಳನು; ಅo4ೋp DಾAರುವ ಬ ೆN ¹Ìçà uಾv ಅನು; ಈ ನನ; ವರmBಂm ೆ ಲಗ:2<ರುKೆ2ೕFೆ." -7-
NC: 2026:KHC:23345 CRL.P No. 5218 of 2026 HC-KAR The Police conduct investigation and draws the petitioner into the web of proceedings, as the sole accused. The summary of the charge sheet as obtaining in column No.17 reads as follows:
"17. ೇ<ನ ಸಂeಪ2 ^ಾTಾಂಶ ಈ >ೋwಾTೋಪ ಾ ಪM"ಯ ಅಂಕಣ 12 ರ - ನಮೂm<ರುವ ಆTೋtಯು 2024Fೇ ಇಸ$ ಆಗ " :ಂಗಳ - ಆತ3ಂದ ಅDಾನತು2ಪA< ೊಂಡ Redmi Note 10 Pro x ೈy zೕ ಮತು2 ತನ; 9ೆಸ ನ -ರುವ _-)ೕy ಐA: [email protected] ಅನು; ಉಪBೕ=< ೊಂಡು ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣdಾದ ಇFಾ G ಾ,H ನ - metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro Clicks) (URLID: https://www.instagram.com/metro_chicks?igsh=bGhzZ214cz d0NDdu) ಎಂಬ 9ೆಸ ನ - JಾKೆಯನು; KೆTೆmರುKಾ2Fೆ.
ಆTೋtಯು Kಾನು KೆTೆmದ5 metro_chicks (Bangalore Metro Clicks) ಎಂಬ ಇFಾ G ಾ,H JಾKೆಯನು; ºÉaÑ£À ಜನರು |ಾ4ೋ (Follow) Dಾಡುವ ಉ>ೆ5ೕಶmಂದ ಮತು2 Kಾನು JಾKೆಯ - ಅo 4ೋp Dಾಡುವ $ABೕಗ} ೆ ಅ:ೕ 9ೆಚುc 4ೈ~ 9ಾಗೂ ಕ)ಂv (Likes & Comments) 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;
ಅಕ,ಮdಾ= ತನ; ^ಾDಾ_ಕ YಾಲKಾಣdಾದ ಇ ^ಾ" ಾ,H ನ -, metro_chicks
(Bangalore Metro Clicks) (URL
ID: https://www.instagram.com/metro_chicks?igsh=bGhzZ214czd0N Ddu) ಎಂಬ JಾKೆಯ - $$ಧ mFಾಂಕಗಳಂದು ಒಟು" 14 $$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>ೆ.
ಆದ5 ಂದ ಈ >ೋwಾTೋಪ ೆ ಪM"ಯ ಅಂಕಣ 12 ರ - ನಮೂm<ರುವ ಆTೋtಯು ಾಲಂ 5(i) 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
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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
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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.
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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