G.D. Rajkumar v. State
In the High Court of Madras
Crl. OP 4224/2019
Before Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan
Decided on April 27, 2019

Relevancy of the case: Petition for quashing of FIR for installing CCTV cameras in another person’s property and capturing footage of women’s restroom.

Statutes and Provisions Involved

• The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 66E)
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Section 354C)
• The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Section 482)
• Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002 (Section 4)

Relevant Facts of the Case

• The petitioner allegedly installed CCTV cameras in the property of the second respondent and took footage of the women’s restroom.
• The police removed the CCTV cameras and seized the Digital Video Recorder later. The complainant lodged an FIR against the petitioner.

Prominent Arguments by the Advocates

• The petitioner’s counsel argued that the wall belongs to the petitioner and the installation of cameras was a security measure. Further, the allegations were an abuse of the process of law.
• The respondent’s counsel argued that the camera was focused on the women’s restroom. Hence, the present allegations have been put forth. The videos are sent to a Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.

Opinion of the Bench

• There is a specific allegation to invite the offences, which are very serious in nature. The investigation should proceed further after the report from the Forensic Science Laboratory comes.

Final Decision

• Petition dismissed.