Yasir Lateef vs The State etc.
This is a petition under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 seeking post-arrest bail in respect of FIR No. 36/2016 registered at Police Station Cyber Crime Circle, NR3C, Lahore, for offences including sections 36, 37, ETO, 420, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The core legal question revolves around whether the petitioner is entitled to post-arrest bail for hacking the complainant's Facebook account and uploading her personal pictures without authorization. The Lahore High Court dismissed the petition, holding that the offence is heinous in nature, causes irreparable damage to the victim's reputation, and prima facie connects the petitioner to the crime based on sufficient evidence gathered during the investigation. The court laid down the principle that bail is a discretionary relief rather than a matter of right, especially in cases involving grave violations of privacy and cyber harassment.
- Is grant of post-arrest bail a matter of right or a discretionary relief?
- Does hacking a social media account and uploading personal pictures without authority constitute a heinous offence disentitling the accused to bail?
- Whether sufficient incriminating evidence connecting the accused to cyber harassment justifies the refusal of post-arrest bail?
- Section 497, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 36, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 37, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 420, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 109, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
1.This is a petition under Section 497 Cr.P.C. for grant of post-arrest bail in case F.I.R. No.36/2016 dated 17.05.2016 for the offences under Sections 36, 37, ETO R/V 420, 109, PPC registered with Police Station Cyber Crime Circle, Circle/Sub- Circle, NR3C, Lahore.
2. Precisely stated the allegation against the petitioner is that he hacked facebook account/ID of the complainant and loaded her personal pictures over facebook without authority and also used her personal pictures abusively which has allegedly caused damage to reputation of the complainant in the vicinity .
3. Arguments heard. Record perused.
4. The petitioner is nominated in the FIR. He has been ascribed with a specific role of hacking facebook ID of the complainant and misusing the same for uploading her personal pictures on internet without her permission. During the course of investigation, the petitioner has been found guilty of the offence alleged against him and there is sufficient evidence available on record which is not only threatening but obnoxious and filthy in nature and prima facie connects the petitioner with the commission of the alleged offence. To my mind, the offence alleged against the petitioner is heinous in nature as it ruins the entire life of the victim as being disgraced in the eyes of general public and her family . Such like practice and offences damage the fiber of the society and are liable to be curbed very strongly by the law enforcing agencies.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has emphasized more on the point that punishment for the offence alleged against the petitioner has been provided 'imprisonment or fine', therefore, the case of the petitioner , learned counsel for the petitioner avers, is of further inquiry and he is entitled to concession of bail. Suffice it to say that grant or refusal of concession of bail is a discretionary relief and the same cannot be agitated as a matter of right. Since there is serious allegation of humiliating privacy of the complainant and using her personal pictures abusively , therefore, relying upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of Pakistan in case titled "Shahzad Ahmed vs. The State" (2010 SCMR 1291), I am not inclined to allow bail after arrest to the petitioner .