Women lawyer video case HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH W.P.No.25017 of 2025 X Petitioner(s) Vs 1.The Union Of India Rep By The Secretary to Government, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology 6, Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, Electronics Niketan, New Delhi-110 003 2.The Director General of Police Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004 Respondent(s)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 28.08.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH
W.P.No.25017 of 2025
X
Petitioner(s)
Vs
1.The Union Of India
Rep By The Secretary to Government,
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
6, Lodhi Road, CGO Complex,
Pragati Vihar, Electronics Niketan, New Delhi-110 003
2.The Director General of Police Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai,
Mylapore, Chennai-600 004
Respondent(s)
[R2 suo motu impleaded vide order dated 09.07.2025]
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for
issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent herein to act upon the petitioner representation dated 18.6.2025 by taking all appropriate measures, including but not limited to blocking/removing/issuing take down notices/issuing directions to all concerned intermediaries/websites/ pornographic platforms/ telecommunication service providers to forthwith and on a continuing basis detect, remove, and block all content depicting the petitioners Non consensual intimate images and videos(NCII)which are being uploaded,shared re-uploaded, transmitted or distributed over the Internet and digital platforms, by employing technological solutions such as Hash Matching Technology, Artificial intelligence-based content recognition tools including Photo DNA, Google content safety Hash checkers, or any other similar tools or mechanisms, so as to ensure the effective removal of such content and to prevent its further dissemination on any Internet or digital platform at present and in the future.
For Petitioner(s): Mr.Abudu Kumar Rajaratnam Senior Counsel
for Mr.Rajagopal Vasudevan
For Respondent(s): Mr.A.Kumaraguru
Senior Panel Counsel for R1
Mr.V.Meganathan Government Advocate for R2
O R D E R
When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the learned counsel
for the petitioner submitted that the objectionable video is now resurfacing in three links and a new link has now been created containing the objectionable video. In total, the objectionable video is now available in four links. The particulars of the same was furnished to the learned Senior Panel Counsel for R1 and also the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf R2. The learned counsel for the petitioner also filed a note regarding the identification of the links where the objectionable video resurfaces/appears. The note also deals with the stage of investigation in this case.
2.Ms.Shahnaz Illyas, IPS, SP-TN Cyber Crime Wing, was present at the time of hearing. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor on instructions submitted that the particulars regarding the four links where the objectionable video is available, will be followed up and all effective steps will be taken to block the same in Tamil Nadu.
3.Insofar as the investigation is concerned, it is submitted that A2 was not able to be identified and as per the confession of A1, it is he who had uploaded the video. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the investigation is almost complete and the investigation officer is awaiting for the report from the forensic lab. It is submitted that the police report will be filed at the earliest. In the meantime, A1 obtained statutory bail.
4.The learned Senior Panel Counsel submitted that the Committee meeting is going to be held on 02.09.2025 and that he will be able to file a status report on the next date of hearing. The learned Senior Panel Counsel also relied upon the communication dated 26.8.2025, wherein the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had coordinated with the Office of the Director General of Police and informed that the website in the pornographic platforms has to be blocked.
5.As on today, the objectionable video has resurfaced in three links and it has also surfaced in a new video link. All the four video links must be blocked and it must be ensured that none of the video links resurfaces. This Court expects cooperation between the Centre and the State in this regard. This is in view of the fact that the dignity of the victim girl is involved and every time the video resurfaces, it directly affects the fundamental right of the victim girl under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
6.Post this case for passing further orders on 11.09.2025. In case of any change in portfolio, learned counsel on either side submitted that they will submit a joint letter to the Registry to get the appropriate orders from the Hon’ble Chief Justice in order to enable me to continue to hear this case.
28.08.2025
Index : Yes/No
Neutral Citation : Yes/No kp
To
1.The Union Of India
Rep By The Secretary to Government,
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
6, Lodhi Road, CGO Complex,
Pragati Vihar, Electronics Niketan, New Delhi-110 003
2.The Director General of Police
Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai,
Mylapore, Chennai-600 004
N. ANAND VENKATESH, J. kp
W.P.No.25017 of 2025
28.08.2025