On 1 January, when hundreds of Muslim women started their New Year seeing their photos being misused and 'auctioned' on a GitHub app called 'Bulli Bai', it shouldn't have come as a surprise. For no action was taken and no arrests made in the prequel to this incident – the 'Sulli Deals' fiasco – just six months ago.
Despite the online outrage from the women listed on the app, and their allies, the case saw no concrete investigation, purportedly emboldening the perpetrators to repeat the incident.
Moreover, six months after the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh cops filed two different FIRs in July 2021, the following information has still not been disclosed or clarified by the police with regards to investigation in the case:
When was the Multilateral Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), under which GitHub is bound to share data, initiated?
A copy of the summons issued, if such summons were issued
Whether summons were issued to/information sought from GoDaddy.com, which had 'sullidealing.co.in' registered but not yet hosted
A detailed action report, as sought by the Delhi Commission for Women
Details of steps taken by the Delhi and UP cops to identify and arrest the perpetrators/or the reasons for not arresting them
The Quint had reached out to Delhi and UP Police's cyber crime units on 3 January. Our questions elicited no response.