Police need more time for court’s queries on sex toys

Police said they need “more clarity” over the issue and, hence, would now be seeking a “legal opinion”.

2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: May 19, 2015 04:32 AM IST

Almost three months after a Delhi court directed Delhi Police to examine the question — whether e-commerce websites be prosecuted for abetting offence under Section 377 of the IPC by selling sex toys and other objects that facilitate “intercourse against the order of nature” — police have gone back to court, seeking more time and clarity over the issue.

Finding it hard to answer the questions raised by the court based on a complaint, police said they need “more clarity” over the issue and, hence, would now be seeking a “legal opinion”.

Filing an action taken report (ATR) on the complaint filed by Supreme Court advocate Suhas R Joshi, Delhi Police told the court that police were “not clear” that any cognizable offence can be made out or out. It further told Metropolitan Magistrate Richa Gosain Solanki that police would now seek “legal opinion” over the issue.

The reply by police comes in the case where Joshi, approaching a Delhi court, had filed a complaint alleging that under the segments of “sexual wellness products”, e-tailers sold products that allegedly amounted to abetting acts prohibited under Section 377 of the IPC.
Section 377 deals with unnatural offences involving carnal intercourse against the order of nature.

While the court had earlier directed police to conduct a preliminary probe and examine the complaint, it had, however, later asked the complainant to lodge a formal complaint before the police station concerned.

After which, Joshi lodged a complaint with the SHO of Sabzi Mandi police station.

“It is most respectfully submitted that the complaint has been received. As per the contents of the complaint it is not clear that any cognizable offence is made out or not. Hence, legal opinion is being obtained on the complaint and action will be taken as per the legal opinion. It is therefore requested that some more time may kindly be given,” the SHO said to the court, while filing the ATR.

Kaunain Sheriff M

As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues. He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations. Areas of Expertise Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety. Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps. Global Collaborations Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects: The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry. Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time. Awards & Recognition His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors: Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia) Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club) Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots). Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision. Social media LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99 X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 13: Latest News

Live Blog