A case has been registered by the Cyber Police in Delhi following a complaint from a journalist that photographs of hundreds of Muslim women were uploaded on a group called ‘Bully Bais’.
The journalist, who is one of the women named in the app, gave this information on Twitter. that his complaint has been filed And a case has been registered for sexual harassment under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity on grounds of religion etc.), 153B (accusing prejudicial to national unity), 354A and 509.
The journalist has claimed that a group named ‘Bully Bai’ was formed like ‘Sully Deal’ on GitHub, Which will collect pictures of Muslim women from their social media accounts and encourage people to participate in their “auctions”.
Several women, whose pictures were posted on the group, took to social media to complain to the police.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav says CERT, police coordinating further action
Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav took cognizance of the incident and said that the government was working with police organizations in Delhi and Mumbai in this matter.
Government of India is working with police organizations in Delhi and Mumbai on this matter. https://t.co/EOLUb0FlQe
— ashwini vaishnav (@ashwini vaishnav) 2 January 2022
In addition, the perpetrator’s account was blocked by GitHub and the police and the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) were investigating the matter, he said.
Earlier, Delhi Police said that they have taken cognizance of the matter and the concerned authorities have been asked to take action. PTI quoted an official as saying that the Mumbai Cyber Police has started an investigation regarding the objectionable material.
Opposition leaders demand strict action
Leaders of several political parties demanded quicker and more effective action against the perpetrators.
In a tweet in Hindi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “The Insults and communal hatred towards women This will stop only when we all stand in one voice against it. The year has changed – now we have to speak!”
While Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote, “It is high time that a rift has broken out in our Delhi Police. Shameful that such mentality exists but if they are allowed to get away from it they will repeat the crime at the next opportunity.”
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote, “For context, no arrests, though the sites have been blocked. On the resumption of Bulli Deal after Sully Deal, Hon’ble IT Minister to 30 July and 6 September. Here are my letters for , 2021. Received response on November 2. I had zero hour interference in the club house auction.”
For reference, no arrests, although the sites have been blocked. in the re-emergence of #bully deal Later #sullydeals Here are my letters to the Hon. IT Minister. Date 30 July and 6 September 2021. Received a response on November 2. The clubhouse auction was to be my zero hour intervention. pic.twitter.com/WvltiAH77U
—priyanka chaturvedi (@priyankac19) 2 January 2022
What was the Sully Deal case about?
On July 4, 2021, several Twitter users shared screenshots of an app named ‘Sully Deals’, which was created by an unknown group on GitHub. It had put up pictures of Muslim women with the tagline “Sully Deal of the Day”.
‘Sully’ is a derogatory term used against women.
The makers of the app used pictures of Muslim women from their social media accounts and encouraged people to participate in their “auctions”.
Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Police had registered two FIRs in the ‘Sully Deal’ controversy.