Delhi High Court - Orders
Pawan Kumar vs State Of Nct Of Delhi Through Its ... on 4 September, 2024
Author: Prathiba M. Singh
Bench: Prathiba M. Singh, Amit Sharma
$~7
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(CRL) 2280/2024
PAWAN KUMAR .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Mahesh Singh, Mr. R. L.
Chowdhary, Advs. & Mr. Pradeep
Kumar Arya, Advs.
([email protected])
([email protected])
versus
STATE OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS.
.....Respondents
Through: Mr. Sanjay Lao, Standing Counsel
(Crl.) with Ms. Priyam Aggarwal,
Adv. for State with SI Sahil, P.S. Karol
Bagh.
Mr. Neel Mason, Ms. Ekta Sharma,
Advs. for Google LLC.
Mr. Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar,
CGSC with Mr. Srish Kumar Mishra,
Mr. Alexander Mathai Paikaday & Mr.
Sagar Mehlawat, Advs. for
MeitY/DoT([email protected])
Mr. Devanshu Gupta & Mr. Charu
Singh Munda, Adv.s for Ministry of
Electronics & IT.
Mr. Samir Chugh, Adv. for Bharti
Airtel.
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUSTICE AMIT SHARMA
ORDER
% 04.09.2024
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
2. A status report dated 3rd September 2024 has again been received as This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 06/09/2024 at 00:28:32 per which certain details have been received as to the purchaser of the telephone instrument which was in the name of Yuvraj.
3. Vide the order dated 22nd August 2024, this Court had directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ("MeitY") to contact the concerned personnel of Reddit Inc. in India for obtaining the details of the posts, which the missing boy and girl appear to have uploaded on the Reddit platform. Relevant portion of the order has been extracted below:
"3. Further, an additional status report dated 22nd August 2024 has been handed over in Court today stating that queries given to Reddit Inc. have gone unanswered, and a reminder has also been sent. Reddit is an established social media application, which is used extensively worldwide as also in India. As per the prevalent laws, it ought to have appointed a Grievance Officer in terms of Rule 3(2) Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics) Rules, 2021.
4. Considering, the fact that Reddit has not responded to the queries of the concerned authorities in this matter, in which an attempt of the Court is to trace the missing girl and boy, the Department of Telecommunications ("DoT") and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ("MeitY") shall contact concerned personnel of Reddit in India, and obtain details of the posts, which the missing boy and girl appear to have uploaded on the Reddit platform.
5. For the said purpose, Reddit's officials may contact the concerned IO in the present case i.e., SI Sahil, PS Karol Bagh (M:7838282790) or Mr. Sanjay Lao, ld. Standing Counsel for the State (M:9818166809)."
4. In compliance with the above direction, The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (hereinafter 'MeitY') has furnished fresh information in a sealed cover which has been opened in Court, and has been This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 06/09/2024 at 00:28:32 perused by the Court. The same is taken on record. The information which has been obtained from Reddit Inc through their liaison office in Bengaluru. The said information is to be handed over, today itself, to the learned Standing Counsel- Mr. Sanjay Lao.
5. Mr. Neel Mason, the learned Counsel appearing for Google shall furnish any further necessary information, as soon as possible, as per including the email addresses, which are now being made available. Google shall furnish the necessary information as quickly as possible.
6. After perusing the status report, this Court is of the opinion that considerable time has been lapsed and no progress has been made in the investigation of the instant case.
7. Accordingly, let the investigation be transferred to the Crime Branch, Delhi Police as the last location of the girl and boy appears to be in the State of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
8. The Investigating Officer is directed to transfer the Police file along with the entire record and any other information which may be relevant or received by him to the concerned Officer of Crime Branch within 48 hours from today.
9. The Crime Branch shall look into the matter seriously and conduct diligent investigation and make an endeavour to produce the girl and boy.
10. Officer of the rank of ACP shall supervise the investigation with a special team.
11. Let a status report be filed by the Crime Branch regarding the steps to be taken by them to trace the couple by the next date of hearing.
12. In addition, MeitY shall direct Reddit Inc to provide the details of the grievance officer in India along with the contact details and email address on This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 06/09/2024 at 00:28:32 its website so that if any law enforcement agency needs to contact them, the details of the concerned grievance officer is available.
13. List on 10th September, 2024.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH, J AMIT SHARMA, J SEPTEMBER 4, 2024/nk/sc/Am/NS This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 06/09/2024 at 00:28:32