Chat Abusing Women on Clubhouse: Court wants action to check worsening situation

Mumbai: A magistrate's court has granted bail to one of the three accused in the Clubhouse app case on multiple conditions, including a 15-day mandatory behavioural counselling by a qualified professional.

The 22-year-old, Yash Kumar, was arrested over objectionable comments about women made during two conversations on the Clubhouse app.

Bandra metropolitan magistrate Komal Singh Rajput on February granted bail to Kumar. The detailed order became available on Thursday.

"Irresponsible use" of social media was rampant, especially among teenagers, she said. The problem needs immediate attention, otherwise the situation may go out of hand, the magistrate added.

Kumar is a third-year law student at AMITY University, Noida.

"Being a law student, there is more heavier responsibility on his shoulders compared to other citizens," the court said.

The court also asked Kumar not to leave Mumbai for one month. He shall remain present before the investigating officer whenever required and cooperate with the probe, the judge added.

The court will decide on the bail pleas of the two other accused Akash Suyal (19), an HSC student, and Jaishnav Kakkar (20), a BCom student, after some days as they have tested positive for Covid-19. Advocates Shyam Rishi Pathak and Rahul Yadav argued for the two accused. Pathak said, "The court will decide on our bail pleas after my clients recover from Covid-19."

A woman had lodged a complaint with the cyber police station on January 19, 2022, alleging that objectionable remarks against women were made in certain Clubhouse app conversations on October 27 and November 27 last year.

All three accused were arrested from Haryana on January 21. The police have alleged that the three were using the account on the app under the name Kira XD, @jaishav and pradhan@haryana_alla.