Karnataka police have taken a firm stand on one of the most contentious issues in cybercrime investigations, clarifying that a person's consent to be photographed or recorded does not extend to the circulation of those images or videos.
New Standing Order on Non-Consensual Sharing
In a statewide standing order, Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) MA Saleem directed all police stations to promptly register FIRs in cases involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate photographs or videos. The order makes it clear that legal action must be initiated irrespective of whether the content was originally created with the victim's consent.
The order came amid concerns that some complaints were being delayed or turned away because the photographs or videos had been taken voluntarily. The new directive removes that ambiguity, making it clear that criminal liability arises from the act of unauthorised sharing, not from how the content was created.
Targeting Revenge Pornography and Sextortion
Targeting offences such as revenge pornography, sextortion and online blackmail, the circular establishes a uniform, zero-tolerance framework for police action across the state.
Under the guidelines, desk officers must register an FIR immediately upon receiving a complaint involving leaked intimate content or threats linked to such material. Police stations have also been directed to protect the identity of victims during investigations to prevent further stigma and harassment.
Swift Action and Evidence Preservation
Investigating officers must move quickly to secure the removal or blocking of the offending content through the relevant online intermediaries while ensuring that all electronic evidence is preserved for prosecution.
The order mandates stronger action in cases where intimate images or videos are used to extort money, sexual favours or other benefits. In such instances, police have been instructed to invoke extortion and criminal intimidation provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)-2023, in addition to relevant sections of the Information Technology Act- 2000.
Sensitive Handling of Complaints
To ensure sensitive handling of complaints, statements from women victims should, wherever possible, be recorded by women police officers. The circular also reiterates that police stations must register zero FIRs when offences occur outside their territorial jurisdiction and transfer them later to the appropriate station.
Recognising the technical complexity of such crimes, the order directs investigating officers to work closely with Cyber Crime police stations and the CID cyber division for forensic analysis, account tracing and digital evidence collection.
Legal Provisions and Penalties
The standing order also lays down the legal provisions to be invoked during prosecution. Cases involving the capture or publication of private acts without consent will attract Section 77 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act. A first conviction can result in imprisonment ranging from one to three years, while repeat offenders face three to seven years in prison.
Recent Cases Highlighting the Issue
- Jan 2026: Seer blackmail case - A woman was arrested by CCB after allegedly using compromising audio/video material circulating on social media to extort money from a seer. Police booked the accused for extortion and criminal intimidation.
- Feb 2026: Dating-app sextortion case - A Bellandur resident lost Rs 4.6 lakh after fraudsters recorded him during an intimate video interaction and threatened to release the footage. Bengaluru police classified it as a sextortion case.
- May 2026: Child sexual abuse material case - Bengaluru cybercrime police arrested two men accused of sexually abusing minor girls, recording the acts and uploading the videos online.
- June 2026: Bellandur PG voyeurism case - A woman found an iPhone hidden in a bathroom ventilation opening in a PG accommodation. Police questioned a neighbouring resident and investigated possible voyeurism and unlawful recording.
