While the city police have invoked several Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) and the Indian Penal Code on the 17 persons accused of sexually assaulting a girl in Ayanavaram, cyber law experts, going by information being circulated about the perpetrators using videos and nude pictures of the girl to threaten her to keep silent, wonder why Sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, were not added yet.
Bombay High Court lawyer and cyber law specialist Prashant Mali told The Hindu that if there were indeed such pictures or videos made of the child, then those who shot or shared them should be charged under Section 65B(b) of the IT Act, 2000. This is a non-bailable and non-compoundable offence, he added.
No disclosure of details
In response, the police officials said, as of now, the investigation details could not be disclosed. However, the official added that if at all any evidence is collected, the Sections could be altered or even added before the chargesheet of the accused is completed.
The police official also said that there were court procedures and test identification parades to be completed in the coming week, before the chargesheet could be filed.