Instagram Blackmail & ‘Rape Case’ Threats: Punjab & Haryana High Court Denies Bail in Section 108 BNS Suicide Case
Case Name: Pooja @ Priya Rawat v. State of Haryana
Date of Judgment: 18 February 2026
Citation: CRM-M-57606-2025
Bench: Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Manisha Batra
Held: The Punjab and Haryana High Court held that where prima facie material, including chat records and disclosure statements, indicates sustained blackmail, monetary extortion, and instigation leading to suicide, regular bail cannot be granted. The Court observed that seriousness of allegations, criminal antecedents, and possibility of influencing witnesses are relevant considerations while adjudicating bail in cases under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Summary: The petitioner filed a second petition under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 seeking regular bail in FIR No. 185 dated 26.11.2024 registered under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 at Police Station Shahzadpur, District Ambala . Her earlier bail petition had been dismissed as withdrawn.
The FIR was lodged by the father of the deceased, who alleged that his son had been blackmailed by the petitioner, who allegedly demanded money and costly gifts and threatened to implicate him in a false rape case. Unable to meet the demands, the deceased consumed pesticide on 25.11.2024 and died .
During investigation, chats between the petitioner and the deceased were recovered, indicating continuous communication. It was revealed that the petitioner operated multiple Instagram IDs. She was already in custody in another case under Section 306 IPC involving similar allegations .
The prosecution alleged that when the deceased told her he might commit suicide due to financial distress, she told him to do so. The Court noted that chat records showed the deceased had messaged that she had compelled him to take the extreme step. Considering the gravity of allegations, antecedents, and that material witnesses were yet to be examined, the Court declined bail .
Decision: The petition was dismissed. Observations were clarified to be non-binding on trial .