A sessions court in Mumbai Tuesday rejected the bail application of a 19-year-old arrested last month for passing lewd comments on women on the Clubhouse App. The court said that the offence was not committed against any individual but all women.
The detailed order made available Saturday states Akash Suyal’s offence is being investigated and granting bail will creat a hurdle in the probe.
Suyal, along with two other accused, Jaishnav Kakkar and Yashkumar Parashar, all Haryana residents, were arrested by the Mumbai Police on the basis of a complaint filed by two women who claimed they were defamed after their photographs were discussed by multiple people in the Clubhouse mobile application chatroom.
The three were remanded to judicial custody after being held in police custody until January 24, which was extended to January 28, 2022.
Their lawyers immediately moved for bail; however, since Akash and Jaishnav tested COVID positive, they were kept under quarantine.
Additional Sessions Judge, Sanjashree J Gharat in the detailed order that became available on Saturday, observed that Suyal was using defamatory, derogatory language about womanhood. Moreover, during the course of investigation it is also revealed that two IDs of the accused on the Clubhouse were closed by the app for violation of conditions by the accused.
Suyal filed for bail arguing that he was falsely implicated in the case. His counsel argued that interrogation is already completed and he is in judicial custody. He is a young boy going to college, unwarranted custody will spoil his educational career and future, the counsel said, adding there are no chances of tampering with evidence.
The prosecution opposed the bail plea through assistant public prosecutor, Kalpana Hire, arguing that the accused might tamper with evidence. If he is released on bail, it will create hurdles in further investigation and arrest of the co-accused. The issue is sensitive relating to defamatory statements against womanhood. Suyal created several chat IDs on Clubhouse App and opened discussion and made defamatory statements against women.
(With inputs from agencies)
