Mumbai Police to probe app targeting Muslim women

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced that the creators behind 'Bulli Bai', an app which misuses the photos of Muslim women, had been blocked on GitHub following many complaints from the public. The app appears to be a copycat endeavour of 'Sulli Deals' which had caused furore months before as thousands of photos of Muslim women were uploaded for 'auction'.

"GitHub confirmed blocking the user this morning itself. CERT and Police authorities are coordinating further action," Minister Vaishnav tweeted in response to Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi who had questioned him on why no action had been taken.

Chaturvedi decried the misuse of photos of thousands of women and asked that the government step in to stop the "rampant misogyny" and "communal targeting of women" that the app and it's creators engendered.

"Sir, Thank you. With due respect I had shared with you that besides blocking the platform punishing the offenders creating such sites is important. I hope the Home Minister's Office and MEITY will support Mumbai Police to find these culprits and make them as well as platforms accountable," she tweeted in response.

Mumbai Police have begun a probe at Ms Chaturvedi's request. Delhi Police have also initiated a case that was filed by journalist Ismat Ara, who was one of several women who found themselves listed for 'auction' on the application.

UPDATE: A complaint has been filed by me with the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police for immediate registration of FIR and consequent action against people behind the auctioning of Muslim women on social media. #sullideals #BulliDeals @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/oX3ROLEgv1

— Ismat Ara (@IsmatAraa) January 1, 2022

"Your Bulli Bai of the Day" is the caption which accompanied photos of Muslim women on the app.

While no actual women were being auctioned via 'Sulli Deals' or 'Bulli Bai', the intention of the app was to harass, demean and humiliate Muslim women through using personal photos to advertise them to the population at large, critics have said. The word 'sulli' is a demeaning term used to refer to Muslim women. It is still unclear who or what is operating either app but suspicions remain that it is the same team.

The 'Bulli Bai' app has been taken down by GitHub, which allows anyone to upload and share an in-development app. The 'Sulli Deals' app had also been shared via GitHub. Two FIRs, or First Information Reports, were filed by police in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh over the 'Sulli Deals' app but no significant action was taken against those responsible.