JUDGMENT

Avneesh Jhingan, J. (Oral). - The matter is taken up for hearing through video conference due to COVID-19 situation.

2. This is a petition seeking anticipatory bail in FIR No. 198 dated 9.12.2020 under Section 354 and 354-AIPC and Section 66 of the Information and Technology Act, 2000, registered at Police Station Sadar, Gurdaspur.

3. The FIR is at the instance of the prosecutrix (name withheld). As per the FIR, the petitioner had circulated certain photographs of the prosecutrix on whatsapp and sent/delivered certain offensive messages on her mobile. It is stated that prosecutrix on gaining knowledge of acts of petitioner, informed her parents who tried to get respectables of the village involved in the matter. However on 26.8.2020, the petitioner again circulated photographs. It is alleged that on 27.8.2020 at about 7.30 PM, when the prosecutrix was going to temple, the petitioner forcibly dragged her in his shop and did obscene acts. On her resistance, she was threatened to be eliminated.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the prosecutrix and the petitioner are known to each other since long as they are co-villagers. It is submitted that prosecutrix is majo