Hate Message : Jharkhand HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To WhatsApp Admin [Read Judgment]

The Jharkhand High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to Admin of a WhatsApp group, in a case registered against them under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings.

The Applicant was one of the  Admin of a WhatsApp group named ‘Law Firm’, and was embroiled in a controversy after it was alleged that one of them had sent a message on the group to deliberately “spread religious frenzy”.

“It is submitted that because of ignorance and being a rustic person, the petitioner has not reacted to the message of the co- accused-Birju Ravidas. The petitioner is innocent. Therefore, the petitioner may be given the privilege of anticipatory bail,” Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary noted.

The Court, thereafter, considered it to be a fit case for granting anticipatory bail to both the accused persons, directing them to be released in the event of their arrest.