This is an archive article published on January 16, 2022

‘Sulli deals’ case accused denied bail, court says can’t ignore ‘severity and gravity of his acts’

Denying him bail, Metropolitan Magistrate Vasundhra Chhaunkar observed that the court cannot ignore the “peculiar facts of the case which reflect on the severity and gravity of the alleged acts of the accused”.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 17, 2022 07:49 AM IST

Delhi court Sunday denied bail to BCA graduate Aumkareshwar Thakur.(ANI)

A Delhi court Sunday denied bail to BCA graduate Aumkareshwar Thakur (25), who is accused of creating the ‘Sulli deals’ app on US-based GitHub which posted pictures of Muslim women for “auction online” last year.

Denying him bail, Metropolitan Magistrate Vasundhra Chhaunkar observed that the court cannot ignore the “peculiar facts of the case which reflect on the severity and gravity of the alleged acts of the accused”.

“Misuse of technology and the impact of the alleged acts on the larger section of society cannot be reduced to negligible when being compared to other offences with harsher punishment,” the court said.

The case came to light in July 2021, when Muslim women were listed for “auction” on the app, with photographs sourced without permission and doctored.

Read | Spoke to cops, Sulli Deals probe to finish soon: NCW chair

This is the second bail application, in a similar case, which was dismissed by a Delhi court. On January 14, the court denied bail to engineering student Neeraj Bishnoi — accused of creating another app using GitHub which hosted photographs of more than 100 Muslim women without their consent – observing that his act was an “affront to the dignity of women of a particular community and communal harmony of society”.

Thakur’s lawyers, Sahil Bhalaik and Tushar Giri, argued that IPC Section 153-(A), which deals with provisions relating to promoting enmity between different groups, does not stand as the basic ingredients for the section were missing. They argued that “police are working under pressure of media and society and a lot of public sentiments (are) involved in the matter”.

The court noted that on the contrary, the investigating officer’s report stated that the accused was a part of “Trad Mahasabha and he created the app ‘Sulli Deals’ on Git Hub”. “He and other persons posted pictures of various Muslim women for online auction,” it said.

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The IO submitted that the term ‘Sulli’ was a derogatory term aimed at insulting Muslim women. The court said that the arguments of the defence counsel on the non-application of Section 153-(A) “does not hold any water”.

The court said the investigation is at a developing stage and the accused was arrested after a lot of time-consuming effort. It observed that the accused concealed his identity using Tor Browser and that various complaints relating to the ‘Sulli deal’ case have come to the fore which are pending across India.

“Investigation is at a crucial stage, where crucial evidence and further chain of events are yet to be conclusively unearthed. Granting bail to accused at this juncture will prejudice a fair investigation,” the court said.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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