Shubham Mishra booked for rape threats against female comedian Agrima Joshua

The normalization of violence has become quite common on social media. Social media has become an instrument of interaction and has often led to misunderstandings when presented out of context. The hate lash on the platform has become adverse as one can hide behind a screen and fake their identity. This hate lash comprises of bullying, harassment, shaming, sharing personal details and endless abuses. These acts are usually done to gain popularity or feel powerful by hurting and hurling abuses, other times it’s just a personal grudge.

Comedian Agrima Joshua had made a joke about Quora ( an international question and answer platform) where people were discussing the upcoming statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in an old video. The video resurfaced again when Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik posted a video on Twitter and made an appeal for Agrima’s arrest to Maharashtra’s Home Minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh. Several outraged users started circulating the details of the employees of the cafe. As a mark of protest, a group of people (activists) vandalised the venue- The Habitat, damaged the stage and furniture where Agrima performed last year. The Habitat voiced their opinion on social media.

Soon Agrima found herself in a storm of public outrage which compelled her to delete her video and post an apology to the public on Twitter.

Even after the apology, public outrage grew, and people called for her arrest. Amongst that, one video of Shubham Mishra went viral for spewing sick, misogynistic and criminal content online against Agrima. In his one of the videos, the man can be seen boldly hurling abuses towards the comedian which involved rape threats in graphic details amid other threats of violence. Shubham Mishra has over 2 lakh subscribers on YouTube and had a popular presence on Tik Tok. He is famous for posting polarizing and provocative videos on current affairs. His videos are extremely offensive and disturbing. Shubham considers ‘Hindustani Bhau’ to be his guru, so this repulsive act does not come as a surprise.

Multiple stand-up comedians and Bollywood actors raised concerns over the video. The National Commission of Women took cognizance of the matter and wrote on Twitter that it has asked the Gujarat Police to take immediate action against Mishra. Hundreds of netizens demanded an arrest for him by making #ArrestShubhamMishra hashtag trend.

He took down his video and later uploaded another video claiming that he does not believe that he gave rape threats to anybody and he does not have a loose character.

Vadodara Police took suo moto action in the matter and booked Shubham Mishra under IPC sections 294 (obscenity), 504 (intentionally insults to break public peace), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (intending to insult the modesty of a woman) and u/s 67 Act. 505 IPC and 67 IT Act are non-bailable.

He has been arrested and will be produced before the honourable Court after completing COVID-19 related procedures of the High Court.