Bombay HC Rules WhatsApp Video Circulation Under SC/ST Act

The Bombay High Court has ruled that circulating a video of a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) community on WhatsApp falls within “public view” and attracts provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Justice Yanshivraj Khobragade delivered this ruling while dismissing a bail plea.

The appellant, Nikhil Thepale, is accused of demanding favours from a victim from the SC/ST community. When the victim refused, Thepale recorded videos and photographs of her, subsequently sending them on WhatsApp to her husband, sister-in-law, and other relatives.

Thepale faces charges under Sections 77 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 66(E) and 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(w)(ii) of the Atrocities Act. The FIR was lodged on November 5, 2025, and Thepale has been absconding since that date, a factor Justice Khobragade cited in denying bail.

What to watch: The ruling clarifies legal implications for digital content sharing involving SC/ST individuals.

Editor's note: The draft effectively summarizes the legal case, the charges, and the reasoning behind the High Court's decision.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: The Hindu