The Madras High Court has approved the bail application of a man accused of publishing morphed and obscene photographs of female college students on Instagram. Justice K Rajasekar ordered the release on July 8, noting that investigators had already seized the suspect’s mobile phone and that he had completed a period of detention.
The accused has been in custody since June 21, 2026, following his arrest. The arrest occurred after an internal college committee investigated a complaint and implicated him alongside a co-accused. Police subsequently filed charges under several provisions of the Information Technology Act, including identity theft, transmitting obscene material, and performing sexually explicit acts. The suspect also faces charges of sexual harassment and insulting the modesty of a woman under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the state’s case, a friend of the accused, who attended the same college as the victims, sent photos of his female classmates to the petitioner. The petitioner then allegedly altered these images to make them vulgar before uploading them to Instagram.
Arguments Presented In Court
During the hearing, defense attorney T Anthony Arulraj argued that his client was innocent and had been falsely accused. The defense contended that the petitioner did not alter the photographs himself, but simply shared files that had been forwarded to him by the co-accused. Arulraj added that the police had already blocked the offensive online content and assured the court that his client would comply with all bail conditions.
State representative N Balasubramanian opposed the release, asserting that the suspect had actively distributed the morphed images. The prosecution also highlighted that the investigation is ongoing and the co-accused friend is currently evading arrest.
Bail Conditions And Legal Consequences
Justice Rajasekar granted bail on the condition that the petitioner does not threaten, contact, or influence anyone associated with the case. The court directed the suspect to execute a personal bond of Rs 15,000 with two sureties and mandated that he report to the police station every day for the next four weeks.
The court warned that any violation of these terms would authorize the trial court or judicial magistrate to take immediate legal action. Furthermore, the judge specified that a new police complaint under Section 269 of the BNS could be registered if the accused attempts to abscond.
