CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 16-06-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 Mary Puspha Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Additional Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Avadi Commissionerate, Office of the Avadi Commissioner of Police, Avadi, Chennai 600 054. 2.The Inspector of Police, CCD-1, (Cyber Crime) Avadi Commissionerate, Office of the Avadi Commissioner of Police, Avadi, Chennai 600 054. Respondent(s) PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of BNSS, to issue direction to the respondents to complete the investigation and file report in FIR No.102 of 2025 and consequently, direct the respondents to take action against all the persons involved in the offence in accordance with law. For Petitioner(s): Mr.B.Viswanathan For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Rajasekaran Government Advocate (Crl. Side) 1 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 ORDER This Criminal Original Petition has been filed, seeking a direction to the respondents to complete the investigation and file a final report in FIR No.102 of 2025, and consequently, to direct the respondents to take action against all the persons involved in the offence in accordance with law. 2. The petitioner alleges that a complaint in Crime No.102 of 2025 was registered by the respondent police for offence under Sections 177 of BNS, 2023, Sections 66E & 67 of Information Technology Act, 2000. 3. The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner is associated with voluntary organizations such as “Vasantham Arakattalai” owned by Vasantha, “Anbu Ullangal Arakattalai” owned by Kayalpandi, “Kakkum Karangal Arakkattalai” owned by Raji as well as other individual social activists. The petitioner regularly posted welfare messages and updates about her social work aiding the poor and needy on an Instagram in the name of the petitioner and 10 others. Subsequently, the petitioner found that some miscreants had hacked her and her friends’ Instagram accounts, posting morphed, obscene pictures of them accompanied by vulgar languages causing mental agony, distress and public defamation. Consequently, the petitioner lodged a complaint on 23.07.2025 before the Commissioner of Police, Avadi 2 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 Commissionerate. The complaint was forwarded to Cyber Crime Department to Additional Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime Department, CCD-1, Avadi, wherein the petitioner provided the entire details regarding the individuals and the specific Instagram and Facebook IDs used to post the morphed picture. As the said representation evoked no response, the petitioner has filed the present petition. 4. Mr.R.Rajasekaran, learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent police submitted that the petitioner is an activist, who posts photos and videos to raise awareness among poor and needy persons and that a rival group has been equally active against her. Upon receiving the petitioner’s complaint, three of the offensive social media accounts were blocked. However, these accounts were subsequently reloaded and reactivated. Each time the respondent police block an account, fake profiles and messages mushroom at a faster rate. 5. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondent further submitted that the investigation will be completed and the final report filed, within a period of four (4) months and the appropriate legal action will be taken against the offenders. Since the issue involves social media and opening of fake accounts at lightning speed, obtaining responses and 3 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 tracking these accounts requires additional time. 6. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) for the respondents and also perused the materials available on record. 7. In view of the above submission made by the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side), the respondent police are directed to complete the investigation and file a final report in FIR No.102 of 2025, within a period of four (4) months from the date of webcopy of this order being uploaded on the Madras High Court website and to take appropriate action against the offenders in accordance with law. 8. With the above direction, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of. 16-06-2026 Jd Neutral Citation:Yes/No 4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 To 1. The Additional Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Avadi Commissionerate, Office of the Avadi Commissioner of Police, Avadi, Chennai 600 054. 2.The Inspector of Police, CCD-1, (Cyber Crime) Avadi Commissionerate, Office of the Avadi Commissioner of Police, Avadi, Chennai 600 054. 3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. 5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 M.NIRMAL KUMAR J. jd CRL OP No. 10536 of 2026 16-06-2026 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis