Overview

• The apex court granted interim bail on May 28 with conditions barring the accused from contacting the complainant or misusing his liberty
• Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma challenged the invocation of Section 376 of the IPC given the complainant’s voluntary travels to Jammu
• The bench highlighted that the 23-year-old influencer had spent nine months in custody without formal charges being framed
• An FIR filed in July 2024 by Delhi Police includes allegations of drugging, repeated sexual assault, criminal intimidation and insulting a woman’s modesty
• The case has prompted scrutiny of judicial sensitivity in sexual violence matters and the blurred lines of social media–driven professional relationships