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| | {{Short description|Controversy in India}} |
| | {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} |
| | {{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}} |
| | The '''Bois Locker Room''' controversy refers to the investigation of an [[Instagram]] group chat started by a group of schoolboys from [[Delhi]], India in 2020. The group chat's purpose was to share obscene images of women, many of them underage, which lead to public outcry. |
| | {{Infobox event |
| | | date = 3 May 2020 – 6 May 2020 |
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| '''Bois Locker Room''' series of investigation of the ' Bois Locker Room' case has revealed that the conversation was actually between a girl (sender) and a boy (receiver) in which the girl sent messages through a fake account on social media platforms. | | == Background == |
| | Members of the group are said to be 11th and 12th grade students in some of [[Delhi]]'s top schools. They posted photos of teenage girls without their consent, along with offensive comments, including mentions of [[Rape in India|gang rape]]. This sparked debates and controversy about the existence of rape culture in schools. According to social media accounts that posted leaked screenshots from the group, members of "Bois Locker Room" threatened to leak nude photographs of the women who reported them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=#BoysLockerRoom. A Delhi Students' Group Chat Is Every Parent's Nightmare|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/boyslockerroom-bois-locker-room-delhi-schoolboys-chat-on-gang-rape-on-instagram-2223185|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> |
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| "Investigation has revealed that the alleged conversation is actually between a girl (sender) and a boy in which the girl is sending chat messages through a fictional account in a social media named 'Siddharth'. Using the fake identity of a male person, she suggested in the chat, a plan to sexually assault herself," said Anyesh Roy, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)
| | In May 2020, the [[Delhi Commission for Women]] condemned the group and the cyber unit of the [[Delhi Police]] initiated a probe of its participants.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Delhi women's commission wants 'Bois Locker Room' probed, sends notice to Instagram, police|url=https://theprint.in/india/delhi-womens-commission-wants-bois-locker-room-probed-sends-notice-to-instagram-police/414350/|last=Yadav|first=Jyoti|date=2020-05-04|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> |
| He further said that the purpose of her sending such messages using a fake identity was to check the reaction of the receiver and "the strength of his character, especially when someone talks bad things about the girl herself."
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| The DCP said, "The receiver, also a juvenile, declined to participate in any such plan suggested by 'Siddharth' and stopped further communication with 'him'. Then he sent a screenshot of the messages and showed it to his friends, including the girl about whom the hypothetical conversation of sexual assault took place. However, the girl, being aware of the fact that the account of 'Siddharth' was created by herself, did not report it to anyone. Meanwhile, one of the other recipients of the screenshot posted it as a separate story, from where it started circulating in connected social media accounts of friends, schoolmates, etc."
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| "When the Bois Locker Room screenshots were revealed to others and started circulating on social media, the alleged previous conversation also got mixed with it due to its sensational nature and due to its availability in different student groups," Roy added while saying that efforts are being made to identify and examine/interview the remaining members of the group at the earliest.
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| Speaking more about the latest development in the case, he said, "Partial information about the three accounts has been shared by the intermediary. Further technical details are being collected. The devices seized during the investigation have been sent for forensic analysis. Further investigation is underway."
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| The series of messages gathered public eyes when during social media monitoring, it was noticed that a chat group had been created in which the participants were sharing obscene comments and pictures of girls/women. Acting immediately, the Cyber Crime Unit (CyPAD) registered an FIR under appropriate sections of law and started the investigation.
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| Based on the screenshots of the alleged chats between the group members in the public domain, one juvenile was identified and apprehended immediately after the registration of the case and the mobile phone used in the commission of the offence was seized. Details of other members of the said group were collected from their educational institutions as well as from friends and acquaintances. The group admin, a resident of Noida, was arrested the very next day of the registration of the case. So far, more than twenty-four students connected with the case have been interviewed/examined and connected devices have been seized and sent for forensic analysis.
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| == Rape "Culture" in Schools ==
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| Members of the group, said to be students of the 11th and 12th grades in some of [[Delhi]]'s top schools, posted photos of teenage girls without their consent, along with offensive comments. This sparked debates and controversy about the existence of rape-culture in schools.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=#BoysLockerRoom. A Delhi Students' Group Chat Is Every Parent's Nightmare|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/boyslockerroom-bois-locker-room-delhi-schoolboys-chat-on-gang-rape-on-instagram-2223185|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref> According to social media accounts that posted the screenshots, members of "Bois Locker Room" threatened to leak nude photographs of the women who reported them.<ref name=":1" /> After the revelation of the incident, many social media users as well as leading media outlets started to report that the "Bois Locker Room" Instagram chat group, which had been exposed, had a member named Siddharth who had started a conversation about the gang rape of a minor girl and that Siddharth was actually a girl disguised as a male. However it was later revealed by the police that Siddharth was connected to a different chat group on Snapchat and had nothing to do with the one on Instagram. Police also revealed that they had identified all 27 members and admins of the Instagram chat group as male.
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| Nagpal had earlier also leaked chats from another [[Instagram]] group called ‘Jai ka shirt skrt gang’, whose members were found to have talked about ‘raping girls’.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Delhi women's commission wants 'Bois Locker Room' probed, sends notice to Instagram, police|url=https://theprint.in/india/delhi-womens-commission-wants-bois-locker-room-probed-sends-notice-to-instagram-police/414350/|last=Yadav|first=Jyoti|date=2020-05-04|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-11}}</ref>
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| == Manav Singh's Suicide ==
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| Manav Singh was a 17-year-old boy from Gurugram. He was studying in the 12th grade when he was accused of sexual assault by his classmate, Bhavleen Kaur on social media. This accusation surfaced as #BoisLockerRoom began trending all over [[Twitter]] and [[Instagram]].
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| According to the police, on May 4, 2020, Manav jumped off the balcony of his flat located on the 11th floor of Carlton estate residential complex.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/bois-locker-room-case-a-suspected-member-commits-suicide-parents-seek-probe|title=Bois Locker room case: A suspected member commits suicide, parents seek probe|website=National Herald}}</ref> Manav allegedly committed suicide after his friends began harassing him on social media platforms for being named in Kaur's “MeToo” Instagram post. Kaur alleged that she was molested by the teenager in the basement of her apartment complex two years ago. She wrote that she had revealed it now because she was tired after having kept it a secret for the last two years.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/crime/article/gurugram-teen-suicide-cops-probing-link-to-bois-locker-room-chat-group/588318|title=Gurugram teen suicide: Cops probing link to ‘Bois Locker Room' chat group|website=www.timesnownews.com}}</ref> The police initiated an investigation under '''Section 174''' to enquire and report on the suicide as per the [[Code of Criminal Procedure (India)|Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)]].
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| It was later discovered that the accuser had deleted her messages. The allegations were never substantiated as Kaur never came forward. Manav Singh's parents moved an application before Gurugram police seeking thorough investigation of the matter and filed a complaint against the accuser. On June 7, 2020, Manav's father filed an application under section 156(3) in the Gurgaon District and Sessions Court for monitoring the investigation. MM Gurgaon Court issued a notice to the police for filing a Status Report. The police filed his status report and, on July 15, 2020, issued a notice to Instagram and Snapchat for production of documents. MM Gurgaon Court ordered that a status report be filed regarding the case every 15 days until the filing of a final report.
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| === Reaction to Manav's death ===
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| Manav Singh's death elicited mixed reactions.
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| Rishi Singh, Manav Singh's brother, took to Instagram to claim that his brother was innocent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2S6vwFbyr/|title=Rishi Singh on Instagram: "MANAV WAS NOT A RAPIST. HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE. #justiceformanav #stopdefaming #defamation #slander #falseaccusations #threat…"|website=Instagram}}</ref> While defending his brother Manav, Rishi narrated the circumstances that compelled his brother to take such "drastic" steps. He urged that his brother should not be held guilty of a crime he did not commit. He also mentioned that the accusations made were of a different incident which was not related to the conversations in the 'Bois Locker Room' group chat.
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| This incident was followed by opinions from several sources on how character assassinations on social media were not justified when a mob acts as judge, jury and executioner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idiva.com/news-opinion/opinion/the-problem-with-online-shaming-and-why-cancel-culture-is-wrong/18009156|title=Social Media Shouldn’t Play Judge And Jury, And 17-Year-Old Manav Singh Is Testament To It|date=May 7, 2020|website=iDiva}}</ref>
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| Others argued by posting stories on [[Instagram]] that the accuser should not be blamed for Manav Singh's death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/my-brother-is-not-a-rapist-sibling-of-gurugram-teen-who-committed-suicide-writes-emotional-note-says-not-related-to-bois-locker-room|title='My brother is not a rapist': Sibling of Gurugram teen who committed suicide writes emotional note, says 'not related to bois locker room'|website=Free Press Journal}}</ref> Reacting to this, Manav's brother, Rishi Singh wrote, "Kaur didn’t repent for a second what she wrote which not only led to a young kid's demise but also shattered his family’s life".
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| == Investigation by Delhi Police == | | == Investigation by Delhi Police == |
| Despite the ongoing lock down in place for [[COVID-19]], the investigation was reportedly expedited with help from [[Swati Maliwal]]. As of May 6, 2020, one student responsible for starting Bois Locker Room was arrested and 15 other students from prominent [[Delhi]] schools were questioned. The police also identified 27, mostly underage, members of the group. | | Despite lockdowns in place in Delhi for [[COVID-19]], the investigation was expedited, reportedly with help from [[Swati Maliwal]], Chairwoman of the Delhi Commission for Women. By 6 May 2020, fifteen students were questioned and one arrested. The police identified many of the 27 participants as underage.{{fact|date=December 2022}} |
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| On May 10, 2020, at 7:38 PM, Saurabh Trivedi, a journalist from [[The Hindu]] broke the news on [[Twitter]] in a series of tweets where he wrote that '''a minor girl used a fake identity of another "Sidharth" (a minor boy) and suggested a plan to sexually assault herself in the group chat.''' Saurabh Trivedi wrote, "The purpose of her sending such chat messages using a fake, fictional identity was to check the reaction of the receiver boy and the strength of his character.".<ref name="auto1">https://twitter.com/saurabh3vedi/status/1259485428282871808</ref> He also wrote that, '''"Police said no action will be taken against the girl as she is juvenile and it is a childish act".'''<ref name="auto1"/>
| | As of 11 May 2020, the police had arrested the administrator of "Bois Locker Room" in [[Noida|Noida, India]] apprehended another juvenile who was in the group, and confiscated the mobile phones of all the suspects. Of the 27 boys, 24 had been examined, two were out of reach and the details of one were pending.{{fact|date=December 2022}} |
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| The Snapchat conversation was initially believed to be a conversation among boys who were a part of the Bois Locker Room group. After investigation, none of the 27 boys identified were found to be part of any conversation on [[Snapchat]].
| | == Manav Singh's suicide == |
| | Twelfth grade student [[Manav Singh]] was accused of sexual assault by a friend via social media and committed suicide the day before the Bois Locker Room screenshots surfaced on the internet, leading many to believe that they were related.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/my-brother-is-not-a-rapist-sibling-of-gurugram-teen-who-committed-suicide-writes-emotional-note-says-not-related-to-bois-locker-room|title = 'My brother is not a rapist': Sibling of Gurugram teen who committed suicide writes emotional note, says 'not related to bois locker room'}}</ref> Rishi Singh, Manav Singh's brother, took to Instagram to claim that his brother was innocent and mention that the circumstances that compelled his brother to take such "drastic" steps were not related to the conversations in the Bois Locker Room chat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2S6vwFbyr/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B_2S6vwFbyr |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|title=Rishi Singh on Instagram: "MANAV WAS NOT A RAPIST. HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE. #justiceformanav #stopdefaming #defamation #slander #falseaccusations #threat…"|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |
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| As of May 11, 2020, the police had arrested the group administrator of the #BoisLockerRoom from [[Noida]] and apprehended a juvenile who was in the group and they had confiscated the mobile phones of all the suspects. Of the 27 boys, 24 had been examined, two were out of reach and the details of one more are awaited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/sidharth-is-actually-a-girl-fake-account-used-to-suggest-plan-for-sexual-assault/articleshow/75667020.cms|title=Bois Locker Room News: ‘Sidharth’ is actually a girl; fake account used to suggest plan for sexual assault | Delhi News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
| | == Siddharth rumor == |
| | On 10 May 2020, Saurabh Trivedi, a journalist from the newspaper [[The Hindu]] reported in a thread on [[Twitter]] that a girl using "the fake identity of a male person" and the name "Siddharth" suggested a plan to sexually assault herself in a group chat on [[Snapchat]]. Trivedi wrote, "The purpose of her sending such chat messages using a fake, fictional identity was to check the reaction of the receiver boy and the strength of his character," and that the police would take no action against the girl, who they considered a juvenile committing "a childish act".<ref>[https://twitter.com/saurabh3vedi/status/1259485428282871808 Saurabh Trivedi] Twitter</ref> The chat in question was initially believed to be a conversation among boys who were a part of the Bois Locker Room group, but this was later disproven. Police also reported that they had identified all 27 members and admins of the Instagram chat group as male.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/sidharth-is-actually-a-girl-fake-account-used-to-suggest-plan-for-sexual-assault/articleshow/75667020.cms|title=Bois Locker Room News: 'Sidharth' is actually a girl; fake account used to suggest plan for sexual assault |work=The Times of India}}</ref> |
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| == References == | | == References == |
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| [[Category:Scandals in India]] | | [[Category:Scandals in India]] |
| [[Category:2020 crimes in India]] | | [[Category:2020 crimes in India]] |
| | [[Category:Sexism in India]] |
| | [[Category:Cybercrime in India]] |
| | [[Category:Instagram]] |
| | [[Category:Education scandals]] |
| | [[Category:Secondary education in India]] |
| | [[Category:2020s in Delhi]] |
| | [[Category:Sex crimes in India]] |
The Bois Locker Room controversy refers to the investigation of an Instagram group chat started by a group of schoolboys from Delhi, India in 2020. The group chat's purpose was to share obscene images of women, many of them underage, which lead to public outcry.
Bois Locker Room| Date | 3 May 2020 – 6 May 2020 |
|---|
Members of the group are said to be 11th and 12th grade students in some of Delhi's top schools. They posted photos of teenage girls without their consent, along with offensive comments, including mentions of gang rape. This sparked debates and controversy about the existence of rape culture in schools. According to social media accounts that posted leaked screenshots from the group, members of "Bois Locker Room" threatened to leak nude photographs of the women who reported them.[1]
In May 2020, the Delhi Commission for Women condemned the group and the cyber unit of the Delhi Police initiated a probe of its participants.[2]
Investigation by Delhi Police[edit | edit source]
Despite lockdowns in place in Delhi for COVID-19, the investigation was expedited, reportedly with help from Swati Maliwal, Chairwoman of the Delhi Commission for Women. By 6 May 2020, fifteen students were questioned and one arrested. The police identified many of the 27 participants as underage.[citation needed]
As of 11 May 2020, the police had arrested the administrator of "Bois Locker Room" in Noida, India apprehended another juvenile who was in the group, and confiscated the mobile phones of all the suspects. Of the 27 boys, 24 had been examined, two were out of reach and the details of one were pending.[citation needed]
Twelfth grade student Manav Singh was accused of sexual assault by a friend via social media and committed suicide the day before the Bois Locker Room screenshots surfaced on the internet, leading many to believe that they were related.[3] Rishi Singh, Manav Singh's brother, took to Instagram to claim that his brother was innocent and mention that the circumstances that compelled his brother to take such "drastic" steps were not related to the conversations in the Bois Locker Room chat.[4]
On 10 May 2020, Saurabh Trivedi, a journalist from the newspaper The Hindu reported in a thread on Twitter that a girl using "the fake identity of a male person" and the name "Siddharth" suggested a plan to sexually assault herself in a group chat on Snapchat. Trivedi wrote, "The purpose of her sending such chat messages using a fake, fictional identity was to check the reaction of the receiver boy and the strength of his character," and that the police would take no action against the girl, who they considered a juvenile committing "a childish act".[5] The chat in question was initially believed to be a conversation among boys who were a part of the Bois Locker Room group, but this was later disproven. Police also reported that they had identified all 27 members and admins of the Instagram chat group as male.[6]
