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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
The '''Rohtak sisters viral video controversy''' involves a video that went [[viral video|viral]] on the [[social media]] in [[India]] in late November 2014 and the events that followed.<ref name=HarassedinPublic/> The first video showed two sisters (referred to as the ''Rohtak sisters'' or the ''Sonepat sisters'')<ref name=FreshVid>{{cite news|title=Sonepat sisters’ case: Fresh video by sisters questions SIT probe|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/sonepat-sisters-case-fresh-video-by-girls-questions-sit-probe/article1-1313685.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225173918/http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/sonepat-sisters-case-fresh-video-by-girls-questions-sit-probe/article1-1313685.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 February 2015|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=4 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=BraveheartsToBullies/> beating three young men with a belt alleging that the men had harassed them. Soon, the video was being broadcast by television channels. The girls were praised by the media and given the nickname "bravehearts". After a second video emerged within a few days, which showed them kicking another boy, the opinions began to shift towards negative.<ref name=BraveheartsToBullies>{{cite news|title=Have the Combative Rohtak Sisters Gone From ‘Bravehearts’ to Bullies in India?|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2014/12/04/have-the-combative-rohtak-sisters-went-from-bravehearts-to-bullies-in-india/|accessdate=23 January 2015|work=[[Wall Street Journal]]|date=4 December 2014}}</ref> Six women claiming to be passengers on the bus had testified in front of the police. They said it was not an issue of harassment, but a dispute over seats as the girls had been occupying a seat allotted to a sick woman. A longer unedited video had been found on the internet, in which the girls asked a third girl, who had filmed the incident on their phone, to return it. Later another man came forward and claimed that he had been similarly accused of molestation by the girls and he had to pay {{currency|20000|INR}} to have the charges dropped.<ref name=SpinningFalse>{{cite news|title=Fresh allegations against Rohtak sisters, another man accuses girls of spinning false tales|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/fresh-allegations-against-rohtak-sisters-another-man-accuses-girls-of-spinning-false-tales/517034-3-240.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208064203/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/fresh-allegations-against-rohtak-sisters-another-man-accuses-girls-of-spinning-false-tales/517034-3-240.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 December 2014|accessdate=18 February 2015|work=[[IBNLive]]|date=8 December 2014}}</ref>

On 8 December, the girls offered to undergo a [[Truth serum|narcoanalysis]] test to prove that their version of the events were true.<ref name=Narco/> The girls had failed the [[polygraph test]] conducted on them, while the accused had passed it.<ref name=PolygraphFail>{{cite news|title=Rohtak sisters fail polygraph test; their `molesters` pass: Report|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/haryana/rohtak-sisters-fail-polygraph-test-their-molesters-pass-report_1549037.html|accessdate=18 February 2015|work=[[Zee News]]|date=19 February 2015}}</ref> On 18 January, 2015, the girls made a complaint to Suman Dahiya, vice-chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, saying that they were being pressured to withdraw the case by authorities and that they were asked obscene questions during the polygraph test.<ref name=WomensPanel/> In May 2015, the sisters complained to the police that someone was posting morphed pictures of them on social media.<ref name=Morph/>

On 4 March 2017, the boys were acquitted of all charges. However, the boys reportedly continued to suffer from the effects of the controversy, failing employment qualifications due to the negative light they were painted in.<ref name="ndtv">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|title=2 Years After Viral Video, Accused Cleared In Rohtak Molestation Case|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/court-ends-case-against-3-rohtak-molesters-girls-may-appeal-order-1666224|accessdate=23 March 2017|publisher=ndtv}}</ref><ref name="dnaindia">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|title=‘Molesters’ of Rohtak sisters acquitted by court|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-molesters-of-rohtak-sisters-acquitted-by-court-2342780|accessdate=23 March 2017|publisher=dnaindia}}</ref>

==Events==
{{Location map | India
| width =
| float =
| caption = Location of Rohtak in India

| alt = Location of Rohtak in India
| label = Rohtak
| label_size = 100 
| position = bottom
| background = orange
| mark = Orange_pog.svg
| marksize = 8 
| lat_deg = 28.8909
| lon_deg = 76.5796
}}

===First video===
In late November 2014, a video went viral on the internet in India.<ref name=HarassedinPublic/> It showed two sisters, Pooja and Aarti from Kharkhauda,<ref name=FloggingTheTape/> fighting three men on a moving Haryana Roadways bus near [[Rohtak]], [[Haryana]]. According to initial reports, the sisters, final year students of Bachelor of Computer Application<ref name=FloggingTheTape/> in IC Women’s Government College, were waiting for the bus to return home, when two young men from a nearby village allegedly began harassing them. They also followed them on to their bus and called a third man who joined them en route.<ref name=FloggingTheTape/> One of the men allegedly wrote his phone number on a paper and threw it at them and asked them to pick it up. The girls changed buses, the youth allegedly followed them and continued harassing despite a female co-passenger's objections. When one of the men grabbed Aarti's neck, her sister Pooja used her belt to assault the men. The bus slowed at a speed breaker and the three men ejected the girls.<ref name=FloggingTheTape/> One of the girls threw a brick at the men which hit one of them. The bus continued to move and passengers did not interfere. The girls called the women's helpline but got no response. They returned home, told about the events to their parents and they filed a case at the Rohtak Sadar police station. The video was allegedly taken by a co-passenger on a cellphone camera. The event took place on 28 November 2014.<ref name=HarassedinPublic/>

===Reactions===
On 30 November, the very day of the incident, the local police arrested the three accused and charged them under Section 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage woman's modesty) and Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the [[Indian Penal Code]].<ref name=HarassedinPublic>{{cite news|title=Harassed in Public Bus, Rohtak Sisters Thrash Men|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/harassed-in-public-bus-rohtak-sisters-thrash-men-627846|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[NDTV]]|date=30 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=BraveHaryana>{{cite news|title=Brave Haryana sisters thrash 3 eve teasers with belt inside Rohtak bus as no one comes to help them|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/haryana-sisters-rohtak-police-arrests-thrash-molesters-on-bus-rohtak/1/404512.html|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[India Today]]|date=30 November 2014}}</ref>

Reactions in support of the girls and expressive of disgust and contempt for the boys came thick and fast, beginning the same day: Haryana Women's Commission vice-chairperson Suman Dahiya said that she would visit the locality.{{cn|date=May 2020}} Annie Raja, the general secretary of the [[National Federation of Indian Women]], praised the girls and said it was the responsibility of the bystanders to help them.<ref name=AnnieRaja>{{cite news|title=Annie Raja lauds Rohtak sisters for fighting back against eve-teasers|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-annie-raja-lauds-rohtak-sisters-for-fighting-back-against-eve-teasers-2039807|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[DNA India]]|date=30 November 2014}}</ref>

The next day, 1 December 2014, [[Haryana]] Chief Minister [[Manohar Lal Khattar]] praised the bravery of the girls and announced a cash prize of {{currency|51,000|INR}} to be given to each of the girls at a function on [[Republic Day of India|Republic Day]]. Union minister [[Uma Bharati]] said that the all girls should respond like these girls did to harassment. Union Minister [[Nirmala Sitharaman]] praised the girls and said that the viral video showed the risk women face even in public spaces. [[Lalitha Kumaramangalam]], chairperson to the [[National Commission for Women]], praised the bravery of the girls brave and called upon the government to take appropriate action.<ref name=Uma>{{cite news|title=Rohtak eve teasing: Society has to change its mindset, sad that none came to their help, says Uma|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/brave-sisters-who-thrashed-alleged-molesters-to-be-honoured-by-haryana-govt/99/|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=2 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=SlamsDoor/>

On the same day, and hardly 24 hours after the incident, the [[Indian Army]] sources said that two of the men, who had been selected in the army physical test, will not longer be allowed to appear in the written exam. Defence Minister [[Manohar Parrikar]] said that such men had no place in the Indian Army. A local court suspended the bus driver and conductor, and sent the three men to judiciary custody.<ref name=SlamsDoor>{{cite news |title= Army slams door on Rohtak molesters |url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-sisters-who-thrashed-molesters-to-be-honoured-on-republic-day/article1-1292093.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141201130402/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-sisters-who-thrashed-molesters-to-be-honoured-on-republic-day/article1-1292093.aspx |url-status= dead |archive-date= 1 December 2014 |accessdate= 18 January 2015 |work= [[Hindustan Times]] |date= 2 December 2014}}</ref>

By 2 December, TV channels had picked up the story and were visiting the girls' home to interview them.<ref name=FloggingTheTape>{{cite news|title=After Rohtak sisters beat up ‘harrasers’ on bus, everyone starts flogging the tape|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/after-rohtak-sisters-thrash-harassers-on-bus-everyone-starts-flogging-the-tape/99/|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=2 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=IsThereMore>{{cite news|title=Is there more to Rohtak sisters' story than they claim?|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rohtak-sisters-sexual-harassment-molestation/1/404839.html|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[India Today]]|date=2 December 2014}}</ref> The girls had claimed that the video was taken by a pregnant woman, who was the only co-passenger who had tried to help them. But, the woman could not be traced.<ref name=FloggingTheTape/> The police also said that not a single eye-witness had come forward.<ref name=Uma/>

On being interviewed, the father of one of accused said that all three were 19 years old and were pursuing Bachelor of Arts from the Jat College in Rohtak. Two of the boys, Kuldeep and Mohit, were returning after appearing in an army recruitment exam. One of the boys was asked by a sick old woman to buy her a ticket at the bus stop. On boarding the bus, they found the two girl occupying the seats allotted to the old woman. Upon asking them to vacate the seat, an argument began and girls started to hit them. When the boys retaliated, the girls began to capture it on video. The third accused, Deepak boarded the bus later and got caught in the fight.<ref name=FloggingTheTape/> Four women of Asan village, from which the accused hail, said that the boys had not harassed the girls and it was a dispute over seats.<ref name=AnotherVideo>{{cite news|title=Another video showing Rohtak sisters beating teaser goes viral|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/445203/another-video-showing-rohtak-sisters.html|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|date=1 December 2014}}</ref>

===Second video===
On 2 December, a second video went viral on the internet, which showed the girls hitting another boy in Rohtak. The girls claimed that the video was a month older, it was taken in HUDA park, Rohtak. The girls claimed that they were teased by some boys sitting on a bench and after one of the girls started hitting them, they fled. The girls denied that they had released the second video for publicity and said that they had not filed a case for that incident because the accuseds had fled.<ref name=AnotherRohtak>{{cite news|title=Another Rohtak sisters fightback video goes viral|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/another-rohtak-sisters-fightback-video-goes-viral/20141202.htm|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[Rediff]]|date=2 December 2014}}</ref> The girls said the video was probably taken by a bystander and as they always respond to harassers in the same manner, there were probably more videos of them out there.<ref name=SecondVideoEmerges>{{cite news|title=Questions raised about ‘braveheart’ sisters after second video emerges|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/questions-raised-about-braveheart-sisters-after-second-video-emerges/story-fnixwvgh-1227143434743|work=[[News.com.au]]|date=3 December 2014|accessdate=18 January 2015}}</ref>

By 5 December, six women claiming to be passengers on the bus had testified to police. They said it was not an issue of harassment, but a dispute over seats as the girls had been occupying a seat allotted to a sick woman. The government put the prize on hold after the development.<ref name=PutonHold>{{cite news|title=Award for Rohtak sisters put on hold|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Passengers-question-Rohtak-sisters-version/articleshow/45360411.cms|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=5 December 2014}}</ref> On 6 December, [[Kiron Kher]], a [[Indian Parliament|Member of the Parliament]], said that she trusted the girls' version of the story.<ref name=KirronKher>{{cite news|title=MP Kirron Kher backs Rohtak girls|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/mp-kirron-kher-backs-rohtak-girls/article1-1293945.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093231/http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/mp-kirron-kher-backs-rohtak-girls/article1-1293945.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=7 December 2014}}</ref>

On 8 December, the girls offered to undergo a [[narcoanalysis]] test to prove that their version of the events were true.<ref name=Narco>{{cite news|title=Rohtak sisters demand narco test for probe|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rohtak-sisters-demand-narco-test-for-probe/articleshow/45424708.cms|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=9 December 2014}}</ref> The girls were later given police security, after they claimed that they were being pressured by the accused to withdraw the case.<ref name=SeekPolice>{{cite news|title=Rohtak eveteasing: Sisters allege threat, seek police protection|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/chandigarh/rohtak-eveteasing-case-sisters-allege-threat-seek-police-protection/article1-1294050.aspx|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=7 December 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208072251/http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/chandigarh/rohtak-eveteasing-case-sisters-allege-threat-seek-police-protection/article1-1294050.aspx|archivedate=8 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=GetPolice>{{cite news|title=Rohtak 'brave-heart' sisters get police security|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/rohtak-brave-heart-sisters-get-police-security-114121001196_1.html|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[Business Standard]]|date=10 December 2014}}</ref> By now the accused had been released on bails.<ref name=Narco/> By this time, a third video had emerged which showed one of the accused being beaten by his father in a police station and being asked to apologise to the girls.<ref name=GetPolice/> By now another man came forward and claimed that he had been similarly accused of molestation. He had to pay {{currency|20000|INR}} to have the charges dropped.<ref name="SpinningFalse"/>

On 11 December, various non-Jat groups gave their support to the girls, who belong to an [[Other Backward Castes|OBC caste]], and said the government should reinstate the cash prize.<ref name=CasteDivide>{{cite news|title=Haryana's caste divide shows up in Rohtak sisters controversy|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/no-witness-in-favour-girls-get-non-jat-prop/article1-1295382.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119155901/http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/no-witness-in-favour-girls-get-non-jat-prop/article1-1295382.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 January 2015|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=12 December 2014}}</ref> The accused were revealed to be of [[Jat]] caste.<ref name=Defamation/> By this time, a longer unedited video had been found on the internet, in which the girls asked a third girl, who had filmed the incident on their phone, to return it. A witness also came forward claiming that she saw the girls ask a third girl to make the video.<ref name=CasteDivide/><ref name=ManyVersions>{{cite news|title=Many versions cloud Rohtak episode|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/many-versions-cloud-rohtak-episode/15462.html|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=8 December 2014}}</ref>

On 13 December, the girls told the reporters that they had considered committing suicide due to the pressure and endless scrutiny from the society. They also said that they would pursue a [[defamation]] suit against those, who had given false testimony, to malign their image.<ref name=Defamation>{{cite news|title=Sonepat sisters to file defamation suit, reject claims of extortion|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/sonepat-sisters-to-file-defamation-suit-reject-claims-of-extortion/17834.html|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=14 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=RohtakAppeal>{{cite news|title=Rohtak sisters appeal for justice|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rohtak-sisters-appeal-for-justice/article6689621.ece|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 December 2014}}</ref>

===Trial and investigation===
On 15 December 2014, the local court gave permission to the police to run [[polygraph test]]s on the two girls and the witnesses.<ref name=Polygraph>{{cite news|title=Local Haryana court allows polygraph test on Rohtak sisters|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-local-haryana-court-allows-polygraph-test-on-rohtak-sisters-2044217|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[DNA India]]|date=15 December 2014}}</ref> On 7 January, one of accused, Kuldeep, was not allotted a roll number to appear in the written exams for the army recruitment. An official of the Army Recruitment Office said that they cannot allow him to appear the exam, as the case was still under trial. Kuldeep had already cleared the physical and medical tests.<ref name=AccusedDenied>{{cite news|title=Sonepat sisters’ case: Accused denied permission to sit in army written exam|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/sonepat-sisters-case-accused-denied-permission-to-sit-in-army-written-exam/article1-1304450.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125124429/http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/sonepat-sisters-case-accused-denied-permission-to-sit-in-army-written-exam/article1-1304450.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2015|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=8 January 2015}}</ref>

On 18 January, the girls made a complaint to Suman Dahiya, vice-chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, saying that they were being pressured to withdraw the case by authorities and that they were asked obscene questions during the polygraph test.<ref name=WomensPanel>{{cite news|title=Rohtak sisters say govt harassing them, approach women's panel|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Rohtak-sisters-say-govt-harassing-them-approach-womens-panel/articleshow/45935333.cms|accessdate=18 January 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=19 January 2014}}</ref> Around 19 February 2015, a local daily reported that the girls had failed the polygraph test, while the accused had passed it.<ref name="PolygraphFail"/>

On 4 March in reply to an [[Right to Information Act|RTI request]], the Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) said that the sisters had sought a transfer from Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Kharkhauda to the Women’s Government College, Rohtak, by claiming that they were getting married in Rohtak. As proof they had submitted a marriage invitation which gave the date of marriage as 4 February 2014. But while applying for classes, they stated themselves as unmarried. The RTI request was filed by the one of the [[legal counsel]]s of the accused, Pardeep Malik. Sandeep Rathee, another counsel for the accused, demanded charges of fraud to filed. The counsel for the sister, A. S. Pawar, said he was unaware of this and that had no relations with the molestation case.<ref name=RTIReply>{{cite news|title=Sonepat sisters sought migration to Rohtak for marriage: RTI reply|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/sonepat-sisters-sought-migration-to-rohtak-for-marriage-rti-reply/49783.html|accessdate=7 March 2015|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=5 March 2015}}</ref>

In May 2015, the sisters complained to the police that someone has posted morphed pictures of them on the social media. According to the sisters, the police arrested one Nitin Kumar, a resident of Darotha village, on 17 May 2015 after much delay and reluctance.<ref name=Morph>{{cite news|title=One arrested for posting morphed photos of Rohtak sisters|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/One-arrested-for-posting-morphed-photos-of-Rohtak-sisters/articleshow/47322534.cms|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 May 2015}}</ref> On 18 May 2015, the girls met with [[Inspector General of Police]] Shrikant Jadhav to complain that the police investigation had not yet be completed, and they requested that both the original and new morphed image case be transferred to the [[Crime Investigation Department (India)#Crime Branch CID|Crime Branch]] for quicker conclusion.<ref name=CrimeBranch>{{cite news|title=Molestation in moving bus: Rohtak sisters demand probe by crime branch|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Molestation-in-moving-bus-Rohtak-sisters-demand-probe-by-crime-branch/articleshow/47335829.cms|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=19 May 2015}}</ref>

Also in May 2015, the sisters said in an interview with Geetanjali Gayatri of ''[[The Tribune (India)|The Tribune]]'', that they had been they attracting undue attention where ever they go. They said that their college was receiving large numbers of [[Right to Information Act|RTI applications]] regarding their attendance and grades. One of the sisters, Aarti, told the reporter that they would have been better off dead like the Moga girl, referring to an incident in which a girl died after being thrown off of a bus in the [[Moga district]].<ref name=BetterOffDead>{{cite news|title=Would’ve been better off dead like Moga girl, say Sonepat sisters|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/would-ve-been-better-off-dead-like-moga-girl-say-sonepat-sisters/80208.html|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=15 May 2015}}</ref> In the same month, Divya Arya of ''[[BBC News|BBC Hindi]]'' travelled to the town. Pooja told Arya that they had no intention of fighting back in the future if they are harassed. They also said that they were asked embarrassing questions during the polygraph test.<ref name=FightGoneOut>{{cite news|title=India 'fightback' sisters: Has the fight gone out of them?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32579895|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

In June 2015, it was reported that newer morphed images of the sisters continued to appear on [[Facebook]] and [[WhatsApp]]. The police said they were investigating the case. The sisters also said that they do not trust the polygraph test results as they were leaked. The [[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendent of Police]] of Rohtak, Shashank Anand, said that he will present the test report in court when the court asks for it.<ref name=FIRMorphed>{{cite news|title=Sonepat sister's case: FIR lodged against unknown persons for uploading morphed pictures of girls|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/sonepat-sister-s-case-fir-lodged-against-unknown-persons-for-uploading-morphed-pictures-of-girls/article1-1355406.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607002438/http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/sonepat-sister-s-case-fir-lodged-against-unknown-persons-for-uploading-morphed-pictures-of-girls/article1-1355406.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 June 2015|accessdate=17 June 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=6 June 2015}}</ref>

In August 2015, the police completed its investigation and filed the [[chargesheet]]. The 200-page chargesheet contained statements of 50 witnesses, and included the report of the lie-detector test.<ref name=AllegesBias>{{cite news|title=Sonepat sisters: Girls' counsel alleges bias in investigation|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/sonepat-sisters-girls-counsel-alleges-bias-in-investigation/article1-1381564.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822224000/http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/sonepat-sisters-girls-counsel-alleges-bias-in-investigation/article1-1381564.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 August 2015|accessdate=18 August 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=18 August 2015}}</ref> The media reports said that the statement of the woman who shot the video was also included. She had allegedly said that no molestation had taken place and mobile phone was given to her by one of the girls. The police said the polygraph test of the accused boys was found to be credible.<ref name=FilesChallan>{{cite news|title=Sonepat sisters’ case: 'Allegations not reliable', police files challan in court|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/news/NAT-TOP-sonepat-sisters-thrash-boys-in-moving-bus-police-files-challan-in-court-5087013-PHO.html|accessdate=18 August 2015|work=[[Dainik Bhaskar|Daily Bhaskar]]|date=18 August 2015}}</ref> The legal counsel of the girls, Attar Singh Panwar speaking to ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', accused the police of bias in the investigation. He said the polygraph test might be fabricated by the police and suggested that the case should be handed over to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI).<ref name=AllegesBias/>

==Judgement==

The court delivered its judgement on March 4, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/court-ends-case-against-3-rohtak-molesters-girls-may-appeal-order-1666224|title=2 Years After Viral Video, Accused Cleared In Rohtak Molestation Case|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|publisher=ndtv|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-molesters-of-rohtak-sisters-acquitted-by-court-2342780|title=‘Molesters’ of Rohtak sisters acquitted by court|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|publisher=dnaindia|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref> All the charges were dismissed and the young men were held innocent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/court-ends-case-against-3-rohtak-molesters-girls-may-appeal-order-1666224|title=2 Years After Viral Video, Accused Cleared In Rohtak Molestation Case|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|publisher=ndtv|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-molesters-of-rohtak-sisters-acquitted-by-court-2342780|title=‘Molesters’ of Rohtak sisters acquitted by court|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|publisher=dnaindia|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref> They were acquitted of all the charges against them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/court-ends-case-against-3-rohtak-molesters-girls-may-appeal-order-1666224|title=2 Years After Viral Video, Accused Cleared In Rohtak Molestation Case|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|publisher=ndtv|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-molesters-of-rohtak-sisters-acquitted-by-court-2342780|title=‘Molesters’ of Rohtak sisters acquitted by court|last=|first=|date=5 March 2017|publisher=dnaindia|accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Jasleen Kaur harassment controversy]]
*[[Trial by media]]
* [[Eve teasing]]

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|title=Rohtak sisters thrash men who harassed them on moving bus|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZopUkgU7CSw|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=30 November 2014}}
* {{cite web|title= New video: Rohtak sisters beat up a boy in a Rohtak park|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91GaJcq9NSQ|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[ABP News]]|date=2 December 2014}}
* {{cite web|title=Caught on camera: Father of accused in Rohtak bus incident beats them up |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgu3ibsHwDI|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=4 December 2014}}

[[Category:Viral videos]]
[[Category:2014 controversies]]
[[Category:Controversies in India]]
[[Category:2014 in India]]
[[Category:False allegations of sex crimes]]

Rohtak sisters viral video controversy - Revision history

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