Issue of Sulli Deals, Bulli Bai apps raised in Parliament, Govt says police, public order state subjects
India Today
Lok Sabha MPs Asaduddin OWaisi and Kunwar Danish Ali raised the question of online harassment of Muslim women across the country, citing the ‘Sulli Deals’ and ‘Bulli Bai’ apps that published Muslim women’s photos without their consent.
The issue of ‘Sulli Deals’ and ‘Bulli Bai’ apps, wherein photos of Muslim women were put up in a fake online ‘auction’, was raised in Parliament on Tuesday, March 29. Responding to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and BSP leader Kunwar Danish Ali’s questions in connection with the two apps and the legal action taken against creators, the home ministry said that police and public order are state subjects.
Asaduddin Owaisi and Kunwar Danish Ali had raised questions over the issue of online harassment of Muslim women and whether the government has taken note of harassment of Muslim women across the country. The MPs asked the government to share details of the action taken so far.
In a written response to the Lok Sabha, MoS (Home) Ajay Kumar Misra said, “Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The law enforcement agencies take legal action as per the provisions of law against the culprits.”
The home ministry further added, “As per a report received from the LEAs in the matter, the Delhi Police and Mumbai Police have registered FIRs in the matter of ‘Sulli Deals’ and ‘Bulli Bai’ Apps, under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Information of Technology Act, 2000. After investigation into the case, the Delhi Police has arrested the accused, Aumkareshwar Thakur, in the ‘Sulli Deals’ case. Chargesheet has been filed in the Court on 04.03.2022. In the ‘Bulli Bai’ incident, the Delhi Police has arrested the main accused, Niraj Bishnoi. In addition to this, four other accused were also arrested by the Mumbai Police from Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Odisha.
On being asked whether UN officials have also slammed the Indian Government harassment of Muslim women in the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the Government is not aware of any such formal statement from any UN officials.
Asaduddin Owasisi and Kunwar Danish Ali further asked if POCSO Act has been applied in case of minor girls who were targeted by the apps. To this, the home ministry responded that there no reports of obscenity in respect of minor girls.
The MHA stated that law enforcement agencies took legal action as per provision of the law against the culprits, adding that all accused stand arrested and charge sheeted.
