Rahul Easwar’s Bail Plea to Be Heard Today in Case Involving Disclosure of Survivor’s Identity

Thiruvananthapuram: The bail application of Rahul Easwar, accused of insulting and revealing personal details of the survivor who filed a sexual harassment complaint against Rahul Mankootathil, will be considered today. The Thiruvananthapuram Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court will hear the plea.

Earlier, Rahul had filed a bail petition before the Sessions Court, which was scheduled to be taken up on Saturday. However, another bail plea was submitted before the lower court. After spending two days in police custody, he was shifted back to Thiruvananthapuram Poojappura Central Jail yesterday afternoon. The CJM Court had sent him to police custody on Wednesday.

He was arrested last Sunday for repeatedly insulting the survivor and disclosing her personal information through news channels. The cyber police had registered a case against six people, including Congress leader Sandeep Warrier, based on the survivor’s complaint.

He was booked under BNS Sections 72, 75, 79, and 351. Police stated that the attack against the survivor was a planned move by the Congress cyber team. Rahul’s laptop was also seized. Mahila Congress Pathanamthitta district secretary Ranjitha Pulickan is the first accused. Advocate Deepa Joseph, a Congress supporter, is the second accused, and another person running an account in the name “Deepa Joseph” is the third accused. Sandeep Warrier is the fourth accused, Rahul Easwar the fifth, and a Palakkad-based vlogger the sixth.

The charges include revealing the survivor’s identity, insulting womanhood, issuing threats, and misuse of electronic systems—offences that carry up to two years of imprisonment. The survivor’s photograph had previously been posted on Sandeep Warrier’s Facebook account. Police suspect that the subsequent deletion of the image was deliberate and part of a coordinated effort. After the photo was posted, Congress cyber teams reportedly accessed Sandeep’s account and obtained the image.

Police have warned that strict action will be taken against anyone who insults the survivor on social media. Social media accounts are under surveillance, and digital devices of offenders will be seized.