Jharkhand HC Reprimands Dhanbad Police for “Passive” Response to a Survivor’s Viral Video

Ranchi (IANS): The Jharkhand High Court on Monday expressed sharp displeasure over the police’s failure to curb the circulation of a viral video involving a young woman survivor. A division bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad pulled up the law enforcement machinery for its “passive” response to the digital harassment of the victim.

SSP Appears in Person

Following an earlier summons for the non-registration of a First Information Report (FIR), the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Dhanbad appeared in person before the bench. The SSP informed the court that an FIR has finally been registered based on the survivor’s complaint.

While the court exempted the SSP from future personal appearances, it maintained a stern tone regarding the department’s delay. The bench noted that even if the video allegedly originated from outside the state (reportedly Gujarat), the local police were duty-bound to coordinate with cyber authorities to ensure its immediate removal.

The Case Against Ravi Saw

The legal battle stems from a plea filed by the survivor seeking the cancellation of bail for the accused, Ravi Saw. The survivor alleged that after his release, Saw resumed unlawful activities and subjected her to mental harassment by circulating her video online.

Key observations from the hearing included:

• Cyber Negligence: The court criticized the Dhanbad cyber police for failing to act despite the disclosure of cognizable offenses in the initial complaint.
• Delayed Action: The bench remarked that the police department should have taken proactive steps to block the content on digital platforms the moment it surfaced.
• Next Steps: The Dhanbad SSP has been directed to expedite the investigation and submit a comprehensive status report.

The High Court has posted the matter for further hearing on June 11, 2026.