32 Cases Filed in Kerala for Defaming Survivor in Rahul Mamkoottathil Case

Thiruvananthapuram: Police have registered 32 cases across Kerala against individuals who allegedly defamed the woman who lodged the sexual assault complaint against Congress MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil. The cases have been registered over the past few days, officials said on Thursday.

The Cyber Operations Wing is closely watching online platforms where defamatory remarks or content targeting the complainant are appearing. Police began filing cases from Monday after it was found that several people had shared the woman’s photograph on social media. Many who had earlier shared the picture have now removed it, an officer from the Cyber Operations Wing said.

The Wing is also monitoring accounts that post or forward material revealing the woman’s identity. The cases currently include bailable offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Most of the FIRs have been registered in cyber police stations in various districts.

Police have started issuing notices to the accused, and further action, including arrests, will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation.

The first case in this series was registered based on the woman’s complaint against activist Rahul Easwar and four others. Rahul Easwar was arrested soon after, and a Thiruvananthapuram court later rejected his bail plea.