May Compromise Privacy': Chhattisgarh HC Upholds Trial Court Order Denying Defence Access To Social Media Accounts Of Alleged Rape Victim

The Chhattisgarh High Court rejected a plea by a rape accused seeking access to the survivor’s social media accounts, citing concerns over victim intimidation and privacy violations. The court emphasized that such access could lead to harassment, tampering of evidence, and re-traumatization of the survivor. It upheld the principle that survivor protection outweighs the accused’s fishing expedition for defense material, especially when alternative evidence exists. The judgment aligns with progressive legal safeguards under criminal law, ensuring that rape trials do not become tools for further victimization. This ruling reinforces judicial sensitivity toward survivors’ rights in sexual offense cases.