Survivor in Mankootathil MLA Sexual Assault Case Faces Congress-Backed Cyber Abuse

Thiruvananthapuram: The survivor in the sexual assault case involving MLA Rahul Mankootathil has reportedly become the target of an aggressive online campaign led by Congress-linked cyber groups. The campaign allegedly involved circulating personal information and photographs of the survivor, with tacit support from senior Congress figures. The initiative is believed to have originated within the KPCC Digital Media Cell, a claim that gained credibility after KPCC President Sunny Joseph acknowledged that the cell had disseminated the woman’s wedding photograph.

According to sources, discussions regarding this campaign took place within WhatsApp groups of the Instant Response Team (IRT), which coordinates the social media activity of Congress supporters. After the survivor’s photo was shared internally, members were urged to rapidly circulate it across social platforms. Senior Congress leaders are also reportedly part of these groups. Screenshots and message logs revealing these instructions were later surfaced online, bringing the internal discussions into public view.

Although revealing the identity of a sexual assault survivor is a serious criminal offense, the campaign allegedly attempted to evade legal consequences by circulating the content in a manner that appeared benign. The woman’s year-and-a-half-old wedding photo was reposted with the caption: “Got to know about my friend’s wedding very late; belated congratulations.” However, beneath this seemingly harmless caption, users posted derogatory comments aimed at shaming and discrediting the survivor.

Sandeep Varier, who left the BJP to join Congress, reportedly initiated the first social media post indirectly identifying the survivor. Sandeep Varier wrote that he had attended the young woman’s wedding reception and hinted that the photograph was available on his public profile. This acted as a signal for further dissemination, after which Congress supporters widely shared the image. Following the backlash, Varier later deleted the photograph from his Facebook profile.

Meanwhile, several politically aligned online channels, both Congress- and BJP-leaning, have attempted to approach the survivor’s family, adding further emotional pressure. The family is reported to be experiencing significant psychological distress due to ongoing cyber harassment and invasion of privacy.