Karnataka HC Refuses to Quash Case Against Man Running ‘Bangalore Metro Chicks’ Instagram Page

The Karnataka High Court on Monday refused to quash criminal proceedings against a man accused of running an Instagram page that allegedly posted videos and images of women commuters recorded without their consent in the Bengaluru Metro.

A Single Judge Bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna dismissed the plea, observing that the nature of the allegations did not warrant interference at the threshold.

While rejecting the petition, the Court made it clear that technical objections cannot be permitted to override serious allegations involving the dignity and safety of women.

During the hearing, the Court expressed strong disapproval of the petitioner’s conduct, remarking, “What kind of men are you? You won't leave women anywhere? You don't leave women to be safe anywhere?”

The observations reflected the Court’s concern over non-consensual recording of women in public spaces and its wider implications on safety and privacy.

According to the case record, the petitioner was arrested in May 2025 for allegedly operating an Instagram account under the username “@metro_chicks,” which hosted videos and images of women commuters secretly recorded without their consent inside metro premises.

An FIR was subsequently registered invoking offences of voyeurism along with provisions under the Information Technology Act.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate S.R. Sreeprasad argued that no offence was made out and that the content uploaded was comparable to footage captured through CCTV cameras in public places.

It was further contended that the investigation was vitiated as the complainant and the investigating officer were the same.

The Court, however, rejected these submissions, particularly the comparison with CCTV surveillance, observing, “What CCTV cameras? Clicking women from the back and posting it on Metro Chicks is not an offence?”

The Bench emphasized that such acts, when done without consent and shared on social media platforms, cannot be equated with legitimate surveillance and instead raise serious concerns of privacy invasion and harassment.

Dismissing the plea, the court held that procedural technicalities cannot be used to shield conduct of this nature, stating, “No amount of technicalities I will permit such things to happen. Technicalities cannot override such acts of yours. Time has come that we should stop technicalities on certain things.”

Case Title: BK Diganth v. State by Karnataka

Bench: Justice M Nagaprasanna

Date of hearing: 27.04.2026