In a landmark decision, the Delhi High Court ruled that giving consent for sex doesn't allow someone to capture private moments and post them online. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the bail application of a rape accused, stating that consent for sexual relations does not extend to the exploitation of private images or sharing them on social media.
The case involved a man who claimed his sexual relationship with the woman was consensual, but when the woman failed to repay a loan he gave her, things took a dark turn. The accused allegedly used videos of their intimate moments to blackmail and control her. The court highlighted that, while their initial interaction may have been consensual, the subsequent actions – involving coercion, blackmail, and the misuse of intimate content – were clear violations of her dignity.
The court also rejected the accused's defense, which tried to downplay the situation by citing the woman's marital status and her profession in a massage parlour. It said her occupation and personal life could not be used to justify his criminal actions.
The complainant had claimed the accused lured her with a loan of Rs 3.5 lakh to help her enroll in a course. But instead, he reportedly blackmailed her into sex for two days, threatening to release videos of their intimate moments. He then posted the content on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
The verdict reinforces that consent is not an open door to abuse or exploitation and ensures that one's dignity remains protected.
