Sex toy, accessories sale on Snapdeal draws ire

One of the prominent online shopping sites - Snapdeal - has been hauled in court for listing sex toys and accessories as products.

Suhaas Joshi, a Supreme Court lawyer has filed a complaint against Snapdeal.com and Chennai-based Ohmysecret.com that the e-commerce marketplace was abetting gay sex and exhibiting obscene products by listing lubricants and massagers/vibrator.

The Delhi metropolitan magistrate at Tis Hazari court has directed the police to investigate and submit a report next month. The e complainant's intent was to test the limits of India's anti-homosexuality law (Article 377) that criminalises any intercourse that is against the order of nature.

It's worth pointing out that the sale of sex toys is prohibited under Indian laws against obscenity. But the product listing on website was not visible.

Responding to a report in a trade magazine Quartz, a Snapdeal spokesperson said, "Snapdeal.com is an online marketplace which provides a platform to connect buyers and sellers and the website has no direct link with their operation. Whenever such list of products appear inappropriate, we remove them after being notified as anti-law.

Last month, it was reported that the government of Telangana wanted to block sites such as Flipkart, Iambesharam.com, Thatspersonal.com and Ohmysecrets.com for "objectionable content" as the retailers were selling vulgar items.