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Synopsis

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundaresh today refused to stay investigation against Aumkareshwar Thakur, who allegedly created the Sulli Deals mobile application.

Thakur had approached the Supreme Court for clubbing of FIRs registered against him in various States including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Thakur is accused of promoting enmity between different groups. Court issued notice in the plea and made it returnable in three weeks. 

Court, on hearing the submissions of Thakur’s counsel, queried as to whether the petition could be entertained as the accused had been charged for different offences for different acts pertaining to Apps such as Sulli Deals and Bulli Bai.

Justice Kaul observed that there are different offences pertaining to the creation and operation of Sulli Deals and Bulli Bai moblie applications and queried if different offences could be clubbed. He said, “ You have uploaded photos of various people and each is an aggrieved party.” 

Court further observed as to whether it could be said that whatever was uploaded on the Apps pertained to the same place. It, however, issued notice against the respondents while refusing to stay the investigation. Thakur was represented by Senior Counsel Rajeev Sharma, AoR Sahil Balaik and Advocate Tushar Giri

Sulli Deals was an open-source mobile application that contained photographs and personal information of some 100 Muslim women online.

An FIR was filed by the Delhi Police in this regard. Thakur, who has been alleged to be the creator of the App, was arrested on January 9, 2022 d by the Delhi Police. He was granted bail on March 29, 2022.

Thakur is also an accused in the Bulli Bai case which is related to an online mock auction of Muslim women.

Case title: Aumkareshwar Thakur Vs Union of India