Bulli Bai, GitHub, APK: Muslim women 'auction' app controversy explained

The 'Bulli Bai' app has ignited a controversy just months after a similar app caused outrage and uproar. The incident has also raised many questions related to areas of technology, policing, and law. Here's a brief summary of the various aspects of the case.

WHAT IS 'BULLI BAI'?

It is an app which came to light as the new year began, highlighted on social media by its victims. It portrayed Muslim women as objects up for a mock auction, in which users can participate. The exercise is aimed at degrading the victims. The images are probably taken without permission from the victims' social media accounts. It is an apparent copy of a similar app - Sulli Deals - which came to light in July 2021. Both Bulli and Sulli are pejoratives for Muslim women.

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WHAT IS GITHUB?

Both these apps were not available on popular platforms like Google Play Store or Apple's App Store. Instead, they appeared on a platform called GitHub, which has been described as a code repository platform.

It is like a social media platform for software developers where they can store and manage projects, and also collaborate on them. Anyone can reportedly open a free account on GitHub with just an email, thus making anonymity easy. It's popular for open-source projects where multiple programmers can contribute to making a software better. Apps can also be downloaded from GitHub.

The platform is said to have blocked the user account behind the Bulli Bai app once the controversy erupted.

Another technical term used in the case is APK. This is a file format used to distribute and install apps, games etc. Bulli Bai and Sulli Deals can still be downloaded if their APK or Android Application Package is available online, uploaded by someone else.

POLICE ACTION

Four arrests have taken place so far in the case. Neeraj Bishnoi was arrested from Assam by Delhi Police. He's a second-year engineering student who has been called the main conspirator by Delhi cops. The rest of the arrests, made by Mumbai police, include Shweta Jha, a 19-year-old, labelled the mastermind, and Vishal Kumar Jha, a 21-year-old engineering student arrested from Bengaluru. 21-year-old Mayank Rawal, a chemistry honours student was also arrested from Uttarakhand.

THE LAW

The First Information Report in the matter invoked a host of charges, as per reports. These include Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code which refers to promoting enmity between different groups. The maximum punishment is 3 year imprisonment with a fine. IPC Section 295A regarding acts intended to outrage religious feelings has a similar maximum penalty. IPC Section 345D regarding stalking provides for a 5 year jail term with fine as maximum punishment in case of second and subsequent offences. IPC Section 509 on insulting modesty of a woman has a 1 year jail term with fine as maximum punishment, while IPC Section 500 on punishment for defamation has 2-year imprisonment with fine as the max penalty. Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, regarding publishing of obscene material in electronic form, provides for a 5-year jail term with a Rs 10 lakh fine as max punishment for second and subsequent offences.

WHAT'S LACKING?

More important than the threat of punishment on paper seems to be the reality of action on the ground. Data from National Crime Records Bureau shows that cases filed against sexually explicit content targeting women saw a 105% rise, more than double, between 2018 and 2020.

ALSO WATCH | Barely 6 months after 'Sulli deals', Muslim women targeted again