From Interrogation Room to Social Media

The rape and murder of three-year-old Garima Chaudhary in Bara has taken another disturbing turn after a police constable was arrested for allegedly recording and releasing a video of a teenage suspect’s interrogation. The footage, reportedly recorded inside the interrogation room, later circulated widely on social media. Bara District Police Office has begun criminal proceedings against Constable Kumar, while five other police personnel who were present when the video was recorded are also being investigated. The case raises a serious question that goes beyond the conduct of one constable: Why would police personnel record and circulate such sensitive material in the first place? The video reportedly contains the teenage suspect’s graphic account of the alleged rape of the minor girl and the involvement of his friends. What began as an interrogation appears to have been turned into something to be shared among friends, only to escape that circle and land on social media. Once online, such material can spread within minutes, causing further harm to the victim’s family, compromising the dignity and privacy of a child, and potentially affecting the investigation itself. This is precisely where police professionalism matters. An interrogation room is not a place for personal curiosity, entertainment or social media content. Officers dealing with a sexual violence case involving a minor should understand that every word, image and recording can carry legal and ethical consequences. Sensitive evidence must remain within the chain of investigation, not move from a police phone to a private messaging group and then to the public.