Two minor students of Delhi Public School, (DPS) Bangalore North, involved in a scandal using AI-generated morphed images of a 15-year-old female classmate, have been seen freely roaming despite being allegedly in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).
This revelation raises serious questions about the judicial and law enforcement processes and the accountability of those responsible for the minors' supervision.
The incident first came to light when two class 9 students of Delhi Public School, Bangalore North, who, with the help of an 18-year-old pre-university student, late last month created AI-generated nude images of two of their classmates and posted them on Instagram.
These images were then shared over the internet, leading to widespread outrage and swift action from the school authorities. The accused were suspended, and legal proceedings were initiated against them.
Despite the depth of their actions, the two minors involved were seen playing and engaging in normal activities over the past ten days as per the sources.
This unexpected freedom contradicts the reports that they were to appear in Juvenile Court for bail hearings.
"It seems to me a joke. The police tell us nothing. We never get updates about my complaint. The last time we were told that the two boys would be in prison for a month before they can apply for bail. They've been out for the last 10 days. My circle has seen them around," the 15-year-old victim, whose AI-generated deepfakes were posted online, told Education Post.
All calls to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) for comment went unanswered.
The incident raises some serious questions. Firstly, why are the minors not in custody when the JJB assures that the minors are still in their custody. The visual evidence and witness accounts contradict the JJB's claim.
Secondly, how are these minors freely roaming outside if they are supposed to be in judicial custody and who is responsible for monitoring the minors?
B M Laxmi Prasad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of North-East Bangalore told Education Post, “The prime accused is still in jail but apart from that, why the other two minors are outside, I can't tell you because it's not under my jurisdiction, you can ask the court, why they are outside. You are asking the wrong question to me.”
If the local law enforcement is not responsible, then who is ensuring these minors and where they are supposed to be?
And the third question is, why are authorities passing the buck? When pressed for answers, the DCP suggested asking the court about the minors' whereabouts, indicating a lack of clear jurisdictional responsibility.
The court, on the other hand, asserts that the minors remain in custody. This blame-shifting does nothing to address the core issue—ensuring the minors are held accountable and supervised appropriately.
The statements from the JJB and local law enforcement are riddled with inconsistencies. The JJB claims the minors are in custody, yet photographic evidence provided by one of the victims shows one of the accused playing cricket.
This stark contradiction suggests either a severe lapse in the system or deliberate misinformation.
Adding another layer to this situation is the revelation that the parents of the minors have applied for Transfer Certificates (TCs) from DPS Bangalore North.
This move indicates an attempt to possibly relocate the children amidst the scandal. Are these actions a way to shield the minors from the ongoing investigations, and if so, who is facilitating this process?
A few questions also arise for school authorities. First, why were transfer certificates issued? Given the serious nature of the allegations and the ongoing investigations, why are the school authorities processing TCs for the accused students? Is there an attempt to undermine the judicial process?
An official from the DPS Bangalore school told Education Post, "Sir, just to bring it to your notice, those parents have approached us for TC. That's why we have issued the same."
Second, what measures are being taken to ensure justice? With the minors reportedly seen outside, what steps are the school authorities taking to cooperate with law enforcement and judicial processes to ensure justice for the victim?
This case not only highlights potential failings within the judicial and law enforcement systems but also underscores the social responsibility towards protecting victims of such heinous acts.
The inability to keep the accused minors in custody as required by law not only questions the integrity of the system but also poses a threat to the community.
If the minors are supposed to be under the supervision of the JJB, what mechanisms failed that allowed them to be seen freely roaming outside?
What steps will be taken to address this apparent breach of judicial protocol? Will there be an internal investigation to understand how this oversight occurred?
The use of AI to morph images raises significant concerns about the regulation and monitoring of technological misuse.
This case should act as a wake-up call for stricter cyber laws and the need for more robust systems to prevent the abuse of technology.
The DPS Bangalore North case has left more questions than answers, especially concerning the minors' unexpected freedom despite judicial claims of custody.
The involved authorities need to address these inconsistencies and ensure transparency and accountability.
The parents' attempt to transfer their children and the apparent lapse in monitoring only adds to the depth of the situation.
The public and the victims deserve clear answers and justice. The Education Post News will continue to follow this story closely and hold all responsible parties accountable until these critical questions are addressed satisfactorily.
