Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has said that social-media reels uploaded by the accused in the Jamui sexual-harassment case helped police identify and trace them. He also warned that criminals should not use social media to project themselves as “heroes.”
The comments came after a video of the September 19 incident in Jamui circulated widely online. A group of men allegedly stopped two teenagers travelling on a scooter, assaulted the boy and sexually harassed the girl. Police subsequently identified several suspects with the help of the video and other evidence.
What did the Bihar CM say?
Choudhary, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that people increasingly live through reels rather than reality. Referring to the Jamui accused, he said they might have evaded arrest had they not uploaded reels.
He also warned against what he described as a growing “reel culture”, saying that committing a crime cannot make someone a social-media or community hero.
Police action in the Jamui case
Police have arrested several accused in connection with the incident. According to reports, Nandan Yadav, identified as a key accused, was arrested after being injured in a police encounter. Another accused was also arrested during the operation.
The police investigation reportedly used the viral footage to identify suspects. A vehicle registration number visible in the footage also helped investigators trace the victims and advance the investigation.
Crackdown on sharing the victim’s video
At the same time, authorities have warned that the circulation of the video itself can constitute a serious offence because it reveals the identity of a minor victim.
Jamui Cyber Police reportedly registered FIRs against around 120 social-media accounts for circulating the video while revealing the minor’s identity. Police have urged people not to download, repost or share the footage.
Wider social-media crackdown
The Bihar Police have also been monitoring broader misuse of social media. According to a senior police official cited by The Indian Express, 475 FIRs related to social-media misuse were registered across Bihar during the first half of 2026, with 103 arrests. Authorities also issued more than 450 takedown notices, resulting in over 1,300 posts or URLs being removed or blocked.
The Jamui case has therefore highlighted two contrasting aspects of social media: online videos can provide investigators with valuable evidence, but sharing footage that exposes a minor victim can cause further harm and may itself attract criminal action.
